Wet conditions thwarted Andrew Thompson’s chance of victory in the opening Fujitsu V8 Supercar Series race at Sandown International Raceway today. The Triple Eight Race Engineering pilot finishing sixth after running wide on the opening lap of the race.

Saturday’s Qualifying saw the Gold Coast based driver opt to play it safe and settle for fourth, not wanting to push too hard in the heavy rain.

Thompson got the Monster Energy/Gear Wrench Commodore off the line well but lost grip at Turn 2 in the wet conditions and dropped back to eighth. Thompson struggled to make up ground and eventually finished sixth.

“In Qualifying we tried to be careful,” Thompson explained. “It was risk versus reward and we weren’t about to risk sticking the car into the wall, so we were happy with fourth considering the weather.

“I got a good start for the race, the car was feeling good but I went a little bit too hard, losing the rear and ran wide which made me lose a few spots. After that, I struggled to get back through the field.

“Tomorrow’s a new day. All I can do is focus on what I need to do to keep my foot in the door for the Championship,” Thompson concluded.

Sunday will see Thompson start fourth off the grid for the top ten reverse grid race. A third and final 15-lap race will then conclude Round Six of the Fujitsu V8 Supercars Series for the Norton 360 Sandown Challenge.

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Top Ten Race Results for Fujitsu V8 Supercars – Norton 360 Sandown Challenge

1: Jack Perkins
2: Chaz Mostert
3: Nick Percat
4: David Russell
5: Scott McLaughlin
6: Andrew Thompson
7: Tim Blanchard
8: David Wall
9: Tony Bates
10: Geoff Emery

Fujistu V8 Supercar Championship Standings

1: Andrew Thompson, 1437 pts.
2: David Russell, 1273 pts.
3: Jack Perkins, 1207 pts.
4: Scott McLaughlin, 1167 pts.
5: Tim Blanchard, 1015 pts.
6: Nick Percat, 981 pts.
7: Chaz Mostert, 880 pts.
8: Paul Morris, 739 pts.
9: Rodney Jane, 717 pts.
10: Daniel Jilesen, 671 pts.