DICK Johnson Racing team principal Ben Croke has given an insight into the team’s reaction to its return to winning ways in Townsville.
After being a frontrunning force for the past six years, DJR limped out of the gates this season as the Gen3 ruleset debuted.
But it has gradually moved closer and closer to the front despite the Mustang’s apparent shortcomings, culminating in a Darwin podium for Will Davison and then victory at Reid Park last weekend for Anton De Pasquale.
It was a result aided by De Pasquale having a better tyre bank due to the electrical issues which forced him to retire from the Saturday race, but nevertheless was dubbed by Croke a good day for DJR, the Mustang and Ford as a whole.
“What a relief. We showed we can still win. We remembered how to do it (on Sunday),” said Croke.
Aero upgrades were granted to the 11 Fords in the field prior to Townsville, making for a sudden need to re-learn their package.
Some struggled, with Walkinshaw Andretti United’s Chaz Mostert especially vocal about unresolved issues; Croke conceded there’s plenty still to understand.
“We turned up with new parts on the car, limited practice time, and with so much to learn, We got Anton’s car pretty good for Sunday and made the best of what we had on Saturday,” he said.
“But one sunny day doesn’t mean it is summer.
“There is still a long way to go and a lot of work to do. We have to re-focus on learning the car the way it is now.”
DJR is today conducting further parity testing on Supercars’ behalf out at Queensland Raceway, with driveability and engine performance still under the microscope.
