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WALDEN: ‘NOT TOO FAZED’ ABOUT BLOWN TURBO
Walden Racing team owner / driver Garth Walden says he is not fazed by a turbo failure in the race-favourite #45 Transtar GWR Mercedes Benz A45 AMG during today’s opening practice for the Hi-Tec Oils Bathurst 6 Hour. The team is now working to pull a turbo from a donor car and install it on the #45 with full intentions to be back on-track for this afternoon’s second practice session (1.35pm). Walden was at the wheel when the issues struck 20 minutes into the session, which in itself was delayed from starting by 10 minutes due to a car fire in the preceding Production Sports session. “We had a turbo failure coming out of turn one going up the hill,” explained Walden. “The car lost boost and obviously there was a lot of smoke. We are putting another new turbo on, and we will be ready for P2. Other than (the turbo issue) the car feels all right, we will just ease it into it.” With the failure coming early in practice one, the GWR team is blessed with plenty of time to rectify the issue without missing a session. “Yeah a hundred percent (this is the best timing for it). We are not too fazed about it, will get it fixed and press on.” GWR is fielding a powerhouse four-car attack on this year’s Hi-Tec Oils Bathurst 6 Hour, which doubles as round one of the 2017 Australian Production Cars. The Sydney-based team is fielding not only the #45 for Walden and Supercars Driving Standards Observer and Bathurst 12-hour winner Craig Baird in A1, but also a sister car for Robert Woods, Ben Porter and Duvashen Padayachee. The team is also running cars in Class B – the Race for a Cure Subaru Impreza WRX STi of Ben Kavich, Michael Kavich and Keiran Pilkington (B1) and the defending class-winning Holden VE SS-V Redline (B2) of Brian Walden, Michael Auld and Richard Bloomfield. “Everything else is going all right,” explained Walden. “Our other Merc is doing really well and the Commodore is doing really well. We just have a fuel pressure issue in the Subaru which we will fix up, but other than that we are all good, we are not too fussed.” The Hi-Tec Oils Bathurst 6 Hour action continues this afternoon with Practice 2 at 1.35pm. For live timing, results and full event information, visit www.bathurst6hour.com.au Thanks to Australian Production Cars.