Early end a godsend
DUTCH driver Robin Frijns was a relieved winner when the Bathurst 12 Hour race ended early after a crash, ensuring victory for his Audi.
Frijns was leading yesterday’s international GT endurance event on Mt Panorama from seven-time Supercars champ Jamie Whincup (Mercedes) when the race was declared with 20 minutes left to go.
He had been in fuel-saving mode, like most of the frontrunners, and admitted he didn’t think they’d have finished had the race continued under normal conditions.
“I was pushing but also trying to save as much fuel as I could,” said Frijns after celebrating with Audi Sport Team WRT co-drivers Stuart Leonard and Dries Vanthoor.
“I don’t think we could have made it without a safety car.
“We’re happy, we didn’t expect it from the start when we had issues all the way through. But from halfway to the end everything went fluently.”
The pivotal moment came when ex-Supercars driver Ash Walsh got tied up with a backmarker and hit the wall at the top of the mountain, leaving him helpless with his car sideways across the track.
Kiwi Johnny Reid came over the hill at full pace and slammed into the side rear of the Audi, his evasive action preventing a far more serious accident. Officials decided there was not enough time to clean up the substantial debris and complete the race under green flags. AAP