Three races at Winton Motor Raceway delivered three very different outcomes for Tim  Blanchard at Round 3 of the 2010 Fujitsu V8 Supercar Series. After a solid hit out during practice, Saturday Qualifying was somewhat frustrating as brake problems meant the car was nervous and Blanchard could not get above position 5 on the grid.

The first race was a frantic affair on Saturday with Blanchard dropping to eighth place on Lap 1 before staging an aggressive fight back. An incident at Turn 10 saw Tim get shuffled back. He was soon on the tail of James Moffat and fighting for 6th spot. With plenty of action at the front and a Safety Car period the run to the flag was close. Blanchard emerging in 5th place after a last lap lunge at David Russell. Post race this was promoted to 4th after Jack Perkins was given a time penalty.

Race 2 on Sunday was the inverted Top 10 race so Tim started out of position 6. Dropping to 10th on Lap 1, he once again had to work hard to move back through the pack in another tough race. Shadowing sparring partner James Moffat once again Tim crossed the line in the # 999 Falcon in 6th place just 4/10ths second behind Moffat.

The third and final race was the longest over 20 laps of the tight Winton circuit and with a track covered in rubber from the main V8 Supercar race the focus was on a good position to redeem some points. But it was not playing well for Tim. Up to third place soon after the start, Blanchard received the call from Team Manager Michael Ritter that the # 999 Sirromet Wines / Sanden / CPS Falcon had been deemed to have caused an incident with David Russell and was to serve a drive through penalty effectively ending his race. ‘I could not believe the call from the crew’ a very disappointed Blanchard commented. ‘I really did not believe I had made contact on the entry to the corner.

I did seek clarification form the stewards after the event but what’s done is done. It took a big hit to our point score but others had their fair share of problems too.’ Tim added. The round was won overall by V8 Supercar returnee Cameron McConville from series leader Steve Owen and Nick Percat. Tim Blanchard salvaged 7th place overall for the round. The Fujitsu V8 Supercar Series now moves to Townsville in early July for Round 4.

FUJITSU V8 SUPERCARS MEETING POINTS REPORT

1 38 Cameron McConville Holden Commodore VE 296
2 45 Steve Owen Holden Commodore VE 268
3 222 Nick Percat Holden Commodore VZ 237
4 777 Rodney Jane Ford Falcon BF 193
5 93 Scott McLaughlin Ford Falcon BF 187
6 28 David Russell Ford Falcon BF 185
7 999 Tim Blanchard Ford Falcon BF 179
8 67 Jack Perkins Holden Commodore VE 173
9 59 Aaren Russell Ford Falcon BF 167
10 57 Ben McCashney Holden Commodore VZ 156

FUJITSU V8 SUPERCARS SERIES POINTS REPORT

1 Steve Owen 848
2 Nick Percat 632
3 Tim Blanchard 618
4 Rodney Jane 549
5 David Russell 516
6 James Moffat 505
7 Ant Pedersen 485
8 Jack Perkins 441
9 Marcus Zukanovic 428
10 Geoff Emery 424 

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