3 seasons in 3 days

I cannot think of a more accurate name than that given to the Tasmanian Triple Challenge, the latest round of the V8 Supercar championship held at Symmons Plains. At least that’s if we are talking about the weather conditions as we really did have 3 seasons in 3 days. A real triple challenge. Friday was typical of spring, cool but with a very strong wind blowing. Saturday a beautiful summers day with a top of 25c but huge clouds of dust if anyone went off the circuit. Sunday was a winter’s day with rain periods and heavy clouds. But the racing was sensational and I took some nice snaps, which is all you can ask for.

I would not have thought Symmons was that difficult a track as it’s basically start, turn left, hairpin left, bit of a bend right, sweeping left and repeat, so I did find it funny that Craig Lowndes had a map of the circuit in the middle of his steering wheel. It did him no good at all in the first race as he found himself going backwards along the straight in a huge cloud of dust after just 1 corner, although he drove like a man possessed in race two and three.

Garth Tander ended up winning the weekend for the second year in a row, which was thoroughly deserved. Especially when you consider he was leading race 1 but had an engine problem, which meant he was driving a V6 not V8 but still finished 4th.

Finally I must mention Paul Stubber who drove a Chevrolet Camaro in the historic touring cars support races. You sure could tell he was an ex dirt track racer as every time he came back onto the main straight he had his 5.7litre monster in a 4 wheel drift. Awesome stuff mate!