TIM Blanchard has taken aim at Tickford Racing driver Thomas Randle after a top 10 finish went begging for the Blanchard Racing Team in Newcastle.
BRT recruit Todd Hazelwood bounced back from a subdued Saturday to make the Sunday Top 10 Shootout.
From there, Hazelwood ran strongly at the back of the 10 until ending up in the Turn 9 fence two-thirds of the way through the time-shortened 89-lap race.
The catalyst was contact with Randle. The incident was arguably line-ball and indeed went unpunished, although the fact it happened with Randle a lap down left Blanchard far from impressed.
Hazelwood eventually managed to pluck reverse and press on, finishing down in 15th.
“We struggled a little in the first part of the race on Saturday but Todd found some good speed in the closing stages and we carried that into Sunday,” said Blanchard.
“So, to have a Top 10 finish in the bag in the second race until some very ordinary driving by another driver – who is out of his depth – put Todd into the fence was very disappointing.”
BRT did at least taste success in Super2, with speedy rookie Aaron Love taking second in Race 2.
It was a rough Sunday for Tickford also, which had James Courtney not make the start and then Declan Fraser eliminated just metres into the race.
Cam Waters contended for victory before suffering steering damage which left him to take 12th while Randle was 18th.
“I’m certainly pleased with the pace of our cars. But I’m also frustrated with the reliability and durability of them,” said Tickford CEO Tim Edwards.
“Cam Waters had good speed at the front, James Courtney too, and Declan Fraser was pretty speedy on Saturday, but the weekend was a disappointment.”
