News

Sprint Gas Racing was on the verge of two impressive race results in Townsville today but had them cruelly taken away.

 Jason Bargwanna was running seventh when Steven Richards recklessly lost control of his car and crashed into him.

 Greg Murphy was heading to a finish just outside the top 10 when an alternator belt broke. It eventually shut down his car's battery and forced his immediate retirement with less than a lap to go.

 Bargwanna was in disbelief at Richards' driving today.

 "(Steven) Richards tried to pull off a ridiculously stupid manoeuvre trying to pass down the inside of me, he lost control and damaged the front of my car," Bargwanna said.

 "I mean, look at what he did to Murph at Tasmania, now it's happened to me.

 "I was an innocent bystander and he ruined what was until then a really promising run.

 "It completely destroyed the front bar mounts meaning we couldn't fit the new splitter on. Race over.

 "I can't believe the bad luck we are having. So often have we been in a position for a good result and it's taken away from us.

 "The positive today was seeing James Courtney win because he's had some rotten luck this year also. It gives us hope and helps us to keep our focus.

 "Prior to the accident we were running really well. I was seventh on the road and the car was feeling good. It's so frustrating."

 Starting 23^rd Murphy also had an impressive drive and was 12^th with five laps to go.

 "We could have had a decent result today but the battery stopped on the last lap thanks to a broken alternator belt and my race came to a premature end," Murphy said.

 "It is extremely frustrating when you work hard and the team puts itself in a situation to potentially have one car in, and one car just outside, the top 10. Hell, Bargs might have been in with a chance of a top five.

 "We'll just have to keep at it and try to salvage something at the next round, but at the moment it's hard to digest."