BMW's Yoyo Day in Tasmania

Australian Manufacturers Championship
Symmons Plains Raceway

The GWS Personnel Motorsport team endured an up and down opening race for the second round of the Australian Manufacturers Championship at Symmons Plains Raceway today.

While Peter O’Donnell qualified strongly in his BMW 130i, an electrical gremlin sidelined him early in the running, but the team was able to quickly rectify the issue, and the car completed the race to score another solid points haul.

“The coil gave up the ghost, which is unfortunately one of those things you get with motorsport,” O’Donnell said.

“We lost five or six laps, but a part from that we had a really strong run, the car was fantastic and we had a good time out there.

“We are still getting the balance right with the car in a few of the corners, but I’m sure it will be going like a rocket again tomorrow.

“It was a bit interesting out there with the traffic in the handicap start, a few of the lower level cars made you work to get past them, but it was all good.

“We couldn’t do anything about Jake (Camilleri) for the class win, but the other Mazda made a small gap on us at the start, but he wasn’t able to get away.”

For Shephard who shared driving duties with Keen Booker, a faux pas at the start when he lined up in the wrong starting position proved to be costly when he was given a drive-through penalty.

“It’s better to ask for forgiveness than ask for permission,” Shephard said.

“Unfortunately the officials didn’t forgive me, and they were never likely to give me permission!

“Apart from the driver error at the start, the car was fantastic, even though we are still running around on tyres from Bathurst because we couldn’t get the correct size supplied for this round.

“Keen did a superb job out there, and the car looks fantastic for the races tomorrow.”

The pair of GWS Personnel debuted new fluro paint schemes for the weekend, the cars standing out from the crowd their striking green and pink highlights.

GWS Personnel Motorsport and True Blue Motorsport would like to thank The Shire Conveyancer, Spinifex Australia and Briffa Smash Repairs for their continued support in the Australian Manufacturers Championship.

2010 Australian Manufacturers Championship Calendar

1. Bathurst 12 Hour (NSW) February 12-14
2. Symmons Plains (Tasmaia) April 10-11
3. Phillip Island (Victoria) May 1-2
4. Eastern Creek 6 Hour (NSW) July 17-18
5. Morgan Park (Queensland) August 28-29
6. Sandown (Victoria) October 23-24