Tatnell Takes First WWSS Speed Week Podium

AVALON - Brooke Tatnell and the Krikke MotorSport Team have taken their first Speed Week podium this season after finishing third in Round 4 at Avalon Raceway on Sunday 30 December 2007.

The Toyota Genuine Parts/Cool/Maxwill driver qualified 12th with a time of 12.953 seconds. He started Heat 1 from the inside of the fourth row and moved into sixth before yellow and red-light stoppages. Tatnell restarted in fifth, and made an inside move, passing two cars at once to finish third.

The five-time World Series Sprintcars Champion started Heat 2 from the outside of the fourth row and moved into fifth on the opening lap. After a mid-race caution period, Tatnell restarted in fifth and made a pass for fourth, before a late red light stoppage saw him moved back one place, to finish fifth.

Tatnell started the 6-lap A Dash from the outside of row two, and moved into third off the start. He went on to finish in third and earn himself a third-row starting position for the A-Main.

The Krikke MotorSport driver started the 35-lap A-Main from fifth, and quickly moved into fourth before a second-lap caution period. He powered his Toyota Genuine Parts/Cool/Maxwill machine into third after the restart and set about chasing down the leaders. After a mid-race yellow light stoppage, Tatnell staged an enthralling battle with fourth-placed Max Dumesny, racing side-by-side and swapping positions in lapped traffic. Tatnell made an inside move on Dumesny with two laps remaining to take third, and maintain his series lead.

On the night's racing, Tatnell commented, "It was just another average night, I mean it's not what we should be doing. We're just struggling a little bit to get back to where we should be and where we started the year, so I'm not sure exactly what it is, but we'll figure it out. I mean, third place, it's a decent third. Until the red came out, I thought we had a good shot of winning it. After the red, we just sort of lost a little bit of rhythm and just didn't get it done. That's as simple as it gets."

Krikke MotorSport Team Owner Shane Krikke summed up the night and the remainder of the Series in saying, "That was a lot better tonight. We had some good car speed in the Feature race, particularly early.
We've been tinkering with the car a little bit, it's a bit different to the ones we've run for the past two years, and I believe tonight we've probably found some of the problem. We've been good, but inconsistent, and I think we'll see on the 1st [of January] at Warrnambool. I reckon we'll be back on track and hopefully sail on to win the Championship from there, but it's a long way to go. Farry's [Robbie Farr] in form and Max [Dumesny] is right there, so it's going to be a good one."

Brooke Tatnell and the Krikke MotorSport Team will return to action in the final round of Wanless World Series Sprintcars Speed Week at Warrnambool's Premier Speedway on Tuesday 1 January 2008.

Krikke Motorsport merchandise is now available on-line or direct from the Team Transporter at each venue.

Brooke and the Krikke Team again thank their valued sponsors: Bunbury Toyota, Toyota Genuine Parts, Terry Shields Toyota, PWR, Mega Motors, Maxwill Race Engines, Cool Chassis, Mercure Hotel Parramatta, A1 Sign Shop, A. Lucas Spraypainters, GT Aluminium, Revolution Racegear, BR Motorsports, Vortex Wings, Valvoline, Fortron, Eclipse & BCM Motorsports Marketing

29 December 2007 - Jane Alexander