AS the Supercar teams left for Tasmania for round two of this year’s championship, Brad Jones Racing were looking for a crash free weekend after a couple of expensive shunts at Adelaide and the Australian Grand Prix – but it got worse.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Wet weather played havoc on the narrow track for most of the weekend and BJR caught the brunt of it, writing off two cars and having to rebuild another.
BJR’s Development Series drivers Macaulay Jones and Jack Smith will be running two old BJR chassis that have taken the team all Easter to get ready for this weekend’s racing at Phillip Island and Tim Blanchard’s Cool Drive car has had the whole rear section rebuilt.
“We are going to start a new business – BJR Panel Beating and Spares,” team owner Kim Jones said.
“We have used more than whole years worth of spares in three race meetings.
“It’s been an extraordinary start to the year.
“But in the middle of all that we have had really fast, competitive cars.
“Tim and Nick have consistently been in the top 10, so it’s not all bad news.
“If we get a good run at it, we are on the podium.”
Tim Slade had his Freightliner-backed car hooked up in Tasmania qualifying 4th and finishing eighth to remain in equal eighth in the Championship standings and Percat was one of the fastest cars on track in Sunday’s race.
“We generally go well at Phillip Island so we are looking to continue our good form this weekend,” Jones said.
“Nick is settling in well despite a couple of big shunts, but he and Tim are working well together.
“Weather can be an issue at the Island as it’s a big track but its right on the coast, so one part can be wet and the rest dry.
“With rain on the forecast we will just have to manage it better than the others, but it’s great that we have two quick drivers in very competitive cars.”
BJR cannot afford any more crashes.
“The spare parts bin is empty,” Jones said.
“There is absolutely nothing left.”