Nathan
& Shane Macdonald teamed up at Brisbane International
Speedway on Saturday night to compete in an endurance
race using Nathan's car. The race format saw one driver
do the first 25 laps, then the cars come onto the
infield and swap drivers. The next driver to do another
25 laps. If the car wasn't back out on the track within
2 minutes they would forfeit their position. The
starting positions for the second half of the race were
the same as the finishing positions for the first half.
There were
18 cars competing in the race, and all names were put in
a hat and drawn out to determine starting grid. Sure
enough the #32 car was dead last. A big effort was
going to be needed not only to show good speed, but also
stay out of trouble! The decision was made to let Shane
do the first stint. The race got underway as Shane
started picking the cars off one by one. Macdonald
drove the wheels off his old car and it was like he had
never stepped out of the machine. With about 10 laps
remaining Shane had made his way up to 2nd until a car
rolled up the front straight bringing out the red flag.
Leading the
race was an AMCA car which had started off the front
row. Macdonald put chase which saw a close battle.
Macdonald at one stage took the lead through lapped
traffic, until he got caught up again in traffic. With
only a few laps to go the AMCA car had a flat tyre which
saw shane take the win for the first 25 laps, with Troy
Richards 2nd. A superb drive to come from the rear.
Nathan
Macdonald now had the box seat for the final sector.
The quick change over was done on the infield and we
were back out on the track. It was a single file start
as Nathan put his foot down, and drove away from 2nd
place. Nathan also managed to keep the car straight as
he lapped the entire field twice bar one car. Macdonald
never backed off as in the back of his mind he kept
thinking someone was right behind him.
Shane &
Nathan were both excited and relieved as the car crossed
the line in first place.
"Finally we
done it, we've only been trying to win this the last
three years!"
Luckily the
car is all straight and ready for the V8 to roar again
next weekend as Nathan races in Rockhampton for the
final race of the season.