Erebus steps up on upset by Reynolds
SUPERCARS minnows Erebus Motorsport have announced themselves as championship contenders after David Reynolds upset Jamie Whincup to win the Melbourne 400 yesterday.
In a safety car-interrupted Albert Park sprint, Reynolds followed Scott Pye’s surprise win on Saturday to storm off the start line and score his first checkered flag since the Bathurst 1000 last year.
After Reynolds celebrated his win by drinking champagne from his boot and dropping the winner’s trophy, Erebus boss Barry Ryan claimed the 32-year-old could win this year’s title.
“Yes we are, definitely (championship contenders),’’ Ryan said after Reynolds moved into second place on the championship table behind Whincup’s Red Bull Holden Racing Team teammate Shane van Gisbergen.
“We have two very solid drivers and we are all headed in the right direction.’’
Reynolds held off a challenge from Holden’s Nick Percat to win the race after it was cut short by one lap because of a safety car delay, prompted by James Golding’s mechanical failure on lap eight.
Reynolds said: “I got a pretty good jump and just led the race from there.’’
Whincup claimed the Larry Perkins Trophy for best driver of the weekend after claiming another podium to add to his weekend haul.
The Supercars champion was left fuming following the poor start that allowed Reynolds to beat him. “It is a bit sweet and sour,’’ Whincup said. ‘‘I had a terrible start.’’