IRWIN Racing’s Mark Winterbottom and Toyota Forklifts Scott Pye finished 11th and 14th respectively in the final race of the 2022 Repco Supercars Championship at the VALO Adelaide 500.
Winterbottom started 13th and stayed out of trouble to move into the top ten in the early stages.
Winterbottom had a moment at Turn 12 on Lap 37 and dropped back to 23rd before working his way back up to come home in 11th.
Pye started 21st after a difficult qualifying session, but worked his way through traffic to come home in 14th position.
Winterbottom’s results were enough for him to secure ninth place in the 2022 Drivers’ Championship, while Pye finished 16th.
Team 18 finished off the year 7th in the Team’s Championship.
RESULTS & QUOTES
Scott Pye, #20 Toyota Forklifts Holden ZB Commodore
Qualifying, 19th (1:19.9078)
Race 34, 14th (Fastest lap: 1:20.8063)
“It’s been a tough weekend, today we had an intermittent mechanical issue but we still managed to move forward in the race. We moved forward to 14th in the race and just tried to stay out of trouble.”
“Yesterday wasn’t necessarily one that got away but second was the worst we should have got, so I’m upset and frustrated but looking forward to this break now.
“It’s been one hell of a season, it’s been tough, but it’s had plenty of positive as well. We had great car speed in qualifying, we’ve had some challenges in the races but our qualifying has been a big step forward.”
Mark Winterbottom, #18 IRWIN Racing Team 18 Holden ZB Commodore
Qualifying, 13th (1:19.5865)
Race 34, 11th (Fastest lap: 1:21.1316)
“Tough race but all in all, ninth in the championship isn’t too bad with the year we’ve had, with the ups and downs and what’s gone on, to finish top ten is good.
“We move on to Gen3, it’s going to be a busy Christmas but it’s been a nice way to end the current era.
“We have work to do, we have to be better next year there’s no doubt. We’ll regroup, we’re going hard for a big year next year.”