Highlights
Race 3 (40:47):
Post R3 Interview: 3:51:05
Round 3, saw racing at Townsville Ried Park Street circuit. This was the only street circuit racing on this year’s calendar. A street circuit is a real leveller for drivers as there’s no opportunity for prior practice. Only the drivers that have previously raced there have a slight leg up. Being a street circuit, means the track will evolve overtime as race cars on the track clean the track over time, laying rubber down, improving track grip. The evolution of the track can play havoc with engineers having to predict conditions and fine tune race setups accordingly. To win at Townsville requires experienced engineers, precise drivers and most importantly patience. The weather forescast for the round was cold mornings hot afternoons with a chance of thunderstorms.
Practice sessions saw Hamish in the top 10, as he learned his way around the tricky Ried Park circuit, with race engineer Paul Ceprnich working feverously to provide a setup that would work in the single make Porsche category. Being Hamish’s first time around a street circuit saw a deliberate cautious approach throughout the practice sessions finding the racing line in pursuit of the preciseness required to navigate the irremovable concrete barriers and bouncing the car off what is becoming the famous Townsville kerbs. The times were all very close at the top of the practice charts, making for an enthralling qualifying session.
On a still but chilly Townville morning, Porsche Sprint Challenge was the first category on the track for qualifying. This was a true test of drivers’ nerve and how adept their engineers are to setting the car up for conditions not yet experienced during practice. With the benefit of fresh rubber, phasing the Michelin’s tyre in, the cars cleaning the track up lap by lap the track was quickly evolving, qualifying in front of only those diehard motorsport fans that braved the cold, made for a spectacular qualifying session. After an unfortunate incident, where a fellow competitor, Conor Somers flipped his Porsche GT3, the qualifying session was red flagged just as competitors were contemplating there second tyre run. Hamish managed to post the fastest qualifying time, just before the incident happened. This was Hamish’s first ever pole position in the Porsche GT3! (991.2)!
After an eventful qualifying session, the drivers had to wait a full day before heading out for race 1 (13 laps). Hamish and his engineer took the time to carefully analyse the data from practice and qualifying, to keep the momentum going. Hamish was cautiously optimistic about race 1, knowing where he could make time around the tricky Townsville track. When competitors were marshalled to the out grid, suddenly the thunderstorm loomed on the horizon. In the gusty conditions it was not long before the clouds opened, and light rain ensued. With all competitors on slicks and considerable chatter amongst the teams whether there would be two warm up laps (just like races 2 and 3) or just one, the cars were ordered on to the track for their warm-up lap. In what could only be best described as deplorable race conditions, drivers made their way around a very greasy street circuit onto the grid. On the final corner leading on to the grid, Hamish’s radio suddenly failed. With no communication with the team combined with lack of visibility due to the drizzle, Hamish pulled up at grid position 3, instead of 1. His fellow competitor Clay Obsorne also pulled up short in grid 4 instead of 2. Hamish still without radio communications saw Clay proceed forward, Hamish then thinking it was another roll up lap proceed past grid 1, leaving officials without any choice but to call a race delay and another warmup lap ensued. Hamish was ordered to start the race from pit lane, with-it all-in front of him. With the rain easing, Hamish, made the most of an unfortunate set of circumstances driving through the field from 24th to finishing 14th.
Race 2 (29 laps) was the Endurance Cup race for the round. In clear sky conditions, Hamish started from P14 and made his way through the field to finish in P4. A determined drive from Hamish, moving graciously through the field and putting on a classy show of driver performance in front of a pact Townsville Supercars crowd.
Race 3 (11 laps), the final race of the weekend televised live, the weather was perfect, Townsville crowd was full of anticipation, saw Hamish start out of P4, the stage was set. After a brilliant start, Hamish threaded the eye of the needle and quickly moved up to 2nd place behind fellow competitor, Targett. With a tightly compressed field and Hamish sitting in P2 behind championship leader Targett, the scene was set for an enthralling final race for the weekend. It was clear that Hamish had the pace to pressure Targett for the lead. After just a few laps, Hamish pressured Targett into a mistake at turn 1 (a corner that requires the car to go from a speed of 270kph to just 70kph), Hamish was able to get the move down on the inside. Hamish could barely take a breath before a yellow flag was waived at turn 3 on the same lap, for an incident whereby a competitor at the rear of the field made heavy contact with the concrete barrier. With coolant all over the racing line, and Hamish being the first car to pass the incident, made for a tricky moment as Hamish briefly broke grip fish tailed and managed a spectacular save to maintain his lead. After a full course safety car ensued, Hamish made the ideal start, posting purple sectors, never looking back, finishing the race cumulating with in a 9 second win to his nearest competitor.
Hamish finished the final race in P1, making it P3 podium for the weekend. His performance was best summed up during the race by commentator and motorsport legend Craig Lowndes, "Look at how quickly a weekend can turn around, Fitzsimmons has pole position, made an error had to start from pit lane (race 1) and every race since then he has been fighting back with these grids and now he’s leading this race for the final race of the day for the Porsche Sprint Cup. It’s really amazing the determination to be able to keep fighting back has been incredible."
