Sports · Other Sports · 2 hrs ago
Fuel errors at Gold Coast 500 prompt denial of deliberate pit strategy
Two Camaro teams made late fuel stops at the Gold Coast 500 after their cars did not have enough fuel to finish.
Murray, racing for Team 18, pitted from seventh with five laps left, and Erebus Motorsport had stopped Jarrod Hughes five laps earlier.
The stops moved Chevrolet driver Anton De Pasquale above the finals cut-line, after he had been pushed below it when Chaz Mostert let teammate Ryan Wood pass.
Team 18's Dane said the stops were caused by a fuel error, not a plan to help De Pasquale; Supercars confirmed both cars needed more fuel.
Dane said the team had hoped for a Safety Car that might have allowed Murray to avoid pitting, but it did not happen.
The incident came one event after De Pasquale ran out of fuel while leading the Bathurst 1000, which Team 18 blamed on software.
Dane said the Gold Coast mistake would not happen again.
Team 18 and Erebus Motorsport’s Camaros made late fuel stops at the Gold Coast 500 after failing to carry enough fuel.
GM motorsport boss Simon McNamara and Team 18 team owner Charlie Schwerkolt denied the stops were intended to help Anton De Pasquale reach the Finals.
Team 18’s Mark Dane said the fuel error was a mistake and that the team had hoped for a Safety Car.
The stops lifted De Pasquale above the Finals cut-line after he had been pushed out of it.
The incident came one event after De Pasquale ran out of fuel while leading the Bathurst 1000.
- Who
- Team 18 and Erebus Motorsport; Anton De Pasquale was affected by the stops.
- What
- Both teams made late pit stops because their Camaros needed more fuel. Team 18 denied the stops were coordinated to help De Pasquale.
- When
- At the Gold Coast 500, with five laps remaining for Team 18’s stop.
- Where
- The Gold Coast 500.
- Why
- The cars did not have enough fuel to reach the end. Team 18 said it had hoped for a Safety Car but could not save enough fuel.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Erebus Motorsport pitted Jarrod Hughes for a third fuel stop.
Murray pitted from seventh for a third fuel stop.
The two stops lifted De Pasquale above the Finals cut-line.
- Team 18 car
- Chevrolet Camaro driven by Murray
- Team 18 pit position
- Seventh place
- Team 18 stop
- Five laps remaining
- Erebus driver
- Jarrod Hughes
- Affected driver
- Anton De Pasquale
What people are saying
Believe you me, it had nothing to do with that
We did not put enough fuel in the car and unfortunately it was by such a margin that there was no way you were going to fuel-save to the end.
It was a total and utter fuck-up. It won’t happen again