David Russell experienced the ups and downs of motor racing on Saturday with an impressive win in the Porsche Carrera Cup race but a rough start in the Jack Daniel's Racing Nissan Altima V8 Supercars race in race 1 of the Gold Coast 600.
Russell is driving the number 23 JBS Porsche 991 as a relief driver for Roger Lago and doubling up in V8 Supercars with Rick Kelly in the number 15 Nissan Altima in the Gold Coast 600.
Russell, who qualified on pole for Saturday’s Porsche Carrera Cup race was penalised five seconds to his race time for jumping the start.
Russell charged ahead and gradually pulled a gap on Richards, lap by lap creeping toward a potential five second lead.
Russell crossed the line in first position, an incredible 5.0456 seconds ahead of Richards. With the penalty implemented, Russell won the battle by a mere 0.0456 seconds from Richards.
The gap at the top of the timesheets between Russell and Richards was the smallest ever winning margin in Carrera Cup Australia history.
Russell said he happy with my start but he knew he had jumped early.
“So to unwind the penalty with pace was extremely pleasing. I was worried about lapped cars towards the end but they managed to look in their mirrors and see me coming. I was very relieved when the guys told me I’d won by five seconds,” Russell said.
After claiming victory in the Porsche Carrera Cup support race, David Russell's V8 Supercar race unravelled on the opening lap following contact prior to the start line, which sent the car to the pits for extensive suspension repairs.
"The number 15 Jack Daniel's car definitely had some good pace, but we're obviously disappointed with the start line incident," David Russell said.
"I got a bit of a tardy start, and with this place there is a bit of a concertina effect.
"I haven't seen the footage, but apparently another car moved across on Murph; the first I knew about it was when he clipped me, and he was on the track in front of me.
"It's a shame about the day, all we can do now is roll on to Sunday and have some good pace, and see how we go, “ Russell said.
Nissan Altima number 15 driver Rick Kelly said the day was a little bit tough on him and David Russell.
“But that's what happens in motorsports sometimes," Rick Kelly said
"You have good days and bad days, and today was a tough one for us.
"We didn't get a great start, Dave and Murph just clipped each other, and it was just in the wrong spot where it caused pretty bad damage to both cars.
"A little bit tough on us, but the guys did a great job to replace all of the front suspension, brakes, everything, to get back out and we finished 20th.
"From what happened at the start with the damage, to pick up some points is a great effort.
"We had good race pace, we tried some things out there, so we'll have a good race tomorrow (Sunday)," Kelly said.
