2023 Thrifty Newcastle 500, Event 1 of the Repco Supercars Championship, Newcastle Street Circuit, Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia. 12 Mar, 2023.

Team 18 have successfully completed the first round of the 2023 Repco Supercars Championship at the Thrifty Newcastle 500, emerging third in the teams’ championship points and seventh and tenth in the drivers’ championship for Mark Winterbottom and Scott Pye respectively.

After an eighth and ninth place finish in Race 1, DEWALT Racing’s Winterbottom and Hino Racing’s Pye were promoted to sixth and seventh following a post-race penalty to two competitors.

Winterbottom and Pye placed 10th and 17th in Race 2 respectively, from 14th and 18th on the grid.

A red flag was called on Lap 1 after a start-line incident involving Declan Fraser and Macauley Jones. By this point, Winterbottom moved up to 11th, as Pye maintained 18th.

After a time-shortened finish of 89 laps, Winterbottom climbed up to tenth, while Pye brought the Hino Team 18 Camaro home in 17th.

A consistent performance over the weekend saw both drivers sit in the top ten of the championship, as the team look to build on the knowledge gained from the first competitive event for the team’s Gen3 Chevrolet Camaros. 

Round 2 of the 2023 Repco Supercars Championship will be held at the 2023 Australian Formula 1 Grand Prix on March 30-April 2.

RESULTS & QUOTES

Scott Pye, driver #20 Hino Team 18 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1

Qualifying: 18th (1:12.1237)
Race 2: 17th (Fastest lap: 1:12.9445) 

“It wasn’t a bad weekend for us, we finished up tenth in the championship for the weekend with a seventh yesterday.

“Today was tough, we had a fast car over one lap in the race but really struggled with tyre life and finished 17th.

“There were a few things we learnt in that last race which I’d love to go again and have another go, but ultimately we needed to qualify better today. Yesterday’s job was made easier by qualifying up the front, today we didn’t qualify very well so that made today what it was where we started where we finished.

“I wanted a lot more from that’s second race, but the cars are straight and we move to Albert Park with plenty of lessons learnt. 

“Overall as a group it’s been an amazing effort. It’s been such a tough job to get to this point and I’m super proud of everyone in the pit lane who have worked their backside off to get us here to allow us drivers to do what we do.

“I’m stoked for everyone at Team 18, I can’t thank the boys and girls enough. I’m excited for the year ahead, I think we have amazing opportunities and I’m looking forward to what’s going to be a great year.

Mark Winterbottom, driver #18 DEWALT Racing Team 18 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 

Qualifying: 14th (1:12.0349)
Race 1: 10th (Fastest lap: 1:13.1614)

“It was cool to see the new cars on track. I think the Camaros and Mustangs look fantastic and as a sport it’s gone to a new level. 

“For us we ran relatively trouble free. Sixth on Saturday after a few penalties and a top ten in today’s race.

“Great to see the DEWALT car back on track. We’re seventh in the points, for a day that could have been really tough with the new cars we’ve come away with two top tens.

“We’ll recoup, give the crew a bit of a rest and come back in a couple of weeks at the Grand Prix.”