Will Davison has completed the current era of V8 Supercars with a dominant win in today’s final race of the 2012 season at the Sydney Telstra 500.
A bold move on the second lap of the race on early leader Garth Tander got Davison in front early – and there he stayed.
He won the 30th race of the year by just over two-seconds and competed the current era of V8 Supercars with a win for Ford – in a year dominated by Holden.
“This is magic, particularly here at Homebush. I’ve led the last four years here and had disastrous results,” said Davison.
“To win here now, it’s such a gruelling event and its great to go into the off season with our eighth win of the year.”
“It’s great for all the Ford fans to go into the off season with a great win. Everyone at the team deserves this.”
Only two Safety Car periods interupted today’s 74-lap race, the final 65 laps run caution-free in a clean display of racing.
Craig Lowndes wrangled second place in the championship by finishing second and James Courtney ended his challenging season on a high with third.
“What a way to finish the championship!” said Lowndes.
“We had a great battle with Will and James, and to get second in the championship we had to put our best foot forward.
“All in all I’m happy the season’s over, I’m sad to say goodbye to Vodafone and I’m looking forward to next year.”
Tim Slade ended the year as ‘best of the rest’ – the first non-TeamVodafone or Ford Performance Racing entered car home in the championship – with fourth today and fifth in the championship.
Jamie Whincup ended his championship season in fifth.
Jonathon Webb, David Reynolds, Steve Owen, Jason Bright and Steven Richards completed the Top-10.
Pole-sitter Garth Tander finished 16th and a lap down after being forced to pit with a tyre puncture while running in the top three.
Ford Performance Racing’s Mark Winterbottom recovered from an opening lap incident with James Moffat to drive back through the field, only to suffer a similar puncture, blamed on a bolt in the turn 7 tyre wall. He eventually finished 18th.
It was a disappointing end to Shane van Gisbergen’s final race in V8 Supercars for the foreseeable future; the #9 SP Tools Falcon suffering from clutch problems early in the race and posting a DNF.
22 cars finished today’s race.
