The 2007 BigPond 400 is the second round of the 2007 V8 Supercar season. It was held on the weekend of the 23rd to 25 March at Barbagallo Raceway in Wanneroo, north of Perth, Western Australia. The round was significant in that John Bowe became the driver with the most round starts in the championship after surpassing Peter Brock. It was also significant in that it was Paul Radisich's first round after a major crash at Bathurst in 2006.

Western Australia 2007 BigPond 400
Event Information
Round 2 of 14 in the 2007 V8 Supercar Championship Series
Date23–25 March 2007
LocationPerth, Western Australia
VenueBarbagallo Raceway
WeatherFine
Results
Race 1
Distance 50 laps 120 km
Pole position Garth Tander
HSV Dealer Team
56.0511
Winner Garth Tander
HSV Dealer Team
51:31.2237
Race 2
Distance 50 laps 120 km
Winner Garth Tander
HSV Dealer Team
52:22.0384
Race 3
Distance 50 laps 120 km
Winner Garth Tander
HSV Dealer Team
52:25.6340
Round Results
First 72 pts
Second 57 pts
Third 54 pts

Qualifying

edit

Qualifying was held on Saturday 25 March 2007.

Part 1

edit

Qualifying started with 30 cars hitting the track instead of the usual 31 after a major accident between Jason Bright and Jason Richards after Bright had an engine failure going through turn 4. He (Bright) pulled towards the short cut to go off the track across the path of Jason Richards. The damage to the Fujitsu Racing car was very extensive, so severe that Bright had to withdraw from the entire round.

Paul Dumbrell was one of ten drivers which did not make the top twenty due to a linkage breaking off the throttle pedal. Jamie Whincup also had a spin into the gravel trap at turn 6 which prompted the session to be red flagged. Whincup was able to recover to make the next part of qualifying. Other drivers who went off the circuit included Max Wilson and James Courtney.

Part 2

edit

Session 2 saw Garth Tander set the fastest lap of the session and then sat out for most of the remaining session. The other drivers which were fast in this session were Rick Kelly, Mark Skaife and Todd Kelly. Max Wilson also had another off in this session when he ran wide at turn 7 and through the sand trap.

Part 3

edit

The final session saw the top ten drivers fight for pole. The session was relatively quiet, however Jamie Whincup went off the track in turn 1 by locking the rear tyres and Will Davison ran off the track at turn four. The final results from qualifying was Garth Tander took pole, from Rick Kelly in second and Craig Lowndes in third.

Race 1

edit

Race 1 was held on Saturday 25 March 2007. It started with a relatively smooth start for the first lap, how this did not last long with Cameron McConville tagging John Bowe in turn 4, causing Bowe to go off the track. Over the next couple of laps, Mark Skaife and Craig Lowndes had a major battle over 3rd place, with both drivers changing positions a number of times.

Garth Tander continued to lead the race, until he took his compulsory pit stop on lap 22, allowing his team mate Rick Kelly to take first place. However Rick pitted on the next lap.

After all of the compulsory pit stops were done, Tander came out in first, with Rick Kelly in second and Skaife in third. Todd Kelly and Craig Lowndes continued to battle over fourth position, until on lap 38 when Todd Kelly ran off the track at the first corner and bogged the car in the sand trap. This caused the first safety car of the race. Todd Kelly communicated to the team after the incident that "the brakes had let go, and there was brake fluid throughout the cabin."

With three laps to go, Max Wilson collided with John Bowe causing Bowe to get beached at corner 7. This didn’t cause a safety car due to the closeness of the end of the race, but rather a localised yellow flag. The race was won by Toll HSV Dealer Team’s Garth Tander with his team mate Rick Kelly second, and HRT’s Mark Skaife in third.

Race 2

edit

Race 2 was held on Sunday 26 March 2007. Off the start line, Craig Lowndes was able to get past 3rd place Mark Skaife and raced behind Garth Tander and Rick Kelly. However, on lap 9 Skaife was able to retake 3rd by overtaking Lowndes at turn 6. Lowndes struggled with tyres for the next few laps and pitted as soon as the pit stop window opened.

On lap 21, Cameron McConville was turned around by Steven Richards at the first corner after leaving the pitlane. Team Vodafones’s Jamie Whincup was given a drive through penalty for speeding in the pit lane after not turning on his pit speed limiter. Brad Jones also had a minor off at turn 7 during the second half of the race.

On lap 44, Steve Owen ran off the track at turn 4 after contact with Steven Richards and then crashed into the tyre barriers at turn 7 on the same lap after stating on the radio that he had no brakes. This prompted the first safety car of the race. James Courtney also had engine troubles and retired from the race on the same lap.

Following the restart, Tander went on to win the race, with Rick Kelly in second and Skaife in third.

Race 3

edit

Race 3 was held on Sunday 26 March 2007. The race saw a close fight between both Toll HSV Dealer Team cars and Mark Skaife. The race saw James Courtney have a large crash after steering failure going through the turn 3 complex of the track. This caused his retirement on the 28th lap.

Overall Garth Tander won the race from his team mate Rick Kelly with Mark Skaife in third. This gave Tander not only the round win, but also the clean sweep of taking pole position as well as all three race wins.

Results

edit

Qualifying

edit
Pos No Name Team Part 3 Part 2 Part 1
1 16   Garth Tander HSV Dealer Team 0:56.0511
2 1   Rick Kelly HSV Dealer Team 0:56.2729
3 888   Craig Lowndes Triple Eight Race Engineering 0:56.3653
4 2   Mark Skaife Holden Racing Team 0:56.3879
5 22   Todd Kelly Holden Racing Team 0:56.3927
6 4   James Courtney Stone Brothers Racing 0:56.4623
7 18   Will Davison Dick Johnson Racing 0:56.4645
8 17   Steven Johnson Dick Johnson Racing 0:56.5458
9 88   Jamie Whincup Triple Eight Race Engineering 0:56.6975
10 33   Lee Holdsworth Garry Rogers Motorsport 0:56.8341
11 51   Greg Murphy Tasman Motorsport 0:56.7067
12 3   Jason Richards Tasman Motorsport 0:56.7488
13 6   Steven Richards Ford Performance Racing 0:56.7630
14 8   Max Wilson WPS Racing 0:56.8494
15 5   Mark Winterbottom Ford Performance Racing 0:56.8741
16 55   Steve Owen Rod Nash Racing 0:56.8907
17 9   Russell Ingall Stone Brothers Racing 0:56.8962
18 7   Shane Price Perkins Engineering 0:56.9461
19 67   Paul Morris Paul Morris Motorsport 0:57.0128
20 10   Jason Bargwanna WPS Racing 0:57.2065
21 021   Paul Radisich Team Kiwi Racing 0:57.1294
22 20   Paul Dumbrell Paul Weel Racing 0:57.1867
23 34   Dean Canto Garry Rogers Motorsport 0:57.1965
24 39   Fabian Coulthard Paul Morris Motorsport 0:57.3064
25 11   Jack Perkins Perkins Engineering 0:57.3077
26 50   Cameron McConville Paul Weel Racing 0:57.3728
27 111   John Bowe Paul Cruickshank Racing 0:57.4124
28 12   Andrew Jones Brad Jones Racing 0:57.4610
29 26   Alan Gurr Britek Motorsport 0:57.4985
30 14   Brad Jones Brad Jones Racing 0:57.4985
DNS 25   Jason Bright Britek Motorsport

Race 1 results

edit
Pos No Name Team Laps Time/Retired Grid Points
1 16 Garth Tander Toll HSV Dealer Team 50 51:31.2237 1 24
2 1 Rick Kelly Toll HSV Dealer Team 50 +0.2986sec 2 20
3 2 Mark Skaife Holden Racing Team 50 +3.6703sec 4 17
4 888 Craig Lowndes Team Vodafone 50 +7.027sec 3 15
5 17 Steven Johnson Jim Beam Racing 50 +7.6533sec 8 13
6 18 Will Davison Jim Beam Racing 50 +8.2436sec 7 12
7 88 Jamie Whincup Team Vodafone 50 +10.2184sec 9 11
8 51 Greg Murphy Tasman Motorsport 50 +10.2184sec 11 10
9 33 Lee Holdsworth Garry Rogers Motorsport 50 +13.9126sec 10 9
10 5 Mark Winterbottom Ford Performance Racing 50 +16.79sec 15 8
11 4 James Courtney Stone Brothers Racing 50 +17.1979sec 6 6
12 55 Steve Owen Autobarn Racing 50 +17.8452sec 16 5
13 7 Shane Price Jack Daniel's Racing 50 +18.3338sec 18 4
14 3 Jason Richards Tasman Motorsport 50 +19.2161sec 12 3
15 67 Paul Morris Team Sirromet Wines 50 +19.5589sec 19 2
16 021 Paul Radisich Team Kiwi Racing 50 +20.1606sec 21
17 39 Fabian Coulthard Team Sirromet Wines 50 +21.6402sec 24
18 20 Paul Dumbrell Supercheap Auto Racing 50 +23.8299sec 22
19 50 Cameron McConville Supercheap Auto Racing 50 +24.1006sec 26
20 14 Brad Jones Team BOC 50 +25.5051sec 30
21 11 Jack Perkins Jack Daniel's Racing 50 +28.9624sec 25
22 6 Steven Richards Ford Performance Racing 50 +36.2044sec 13
23 8 Max Wilson WPS Racing 50 +39.5348sec 14
24 9 Russell Ingall Stone Brothers Racing 50 +42.5601sec 17
25 10 Jason Bargwanna WPS Racing 49 +1 lap 20
26 12 Andrew Jones Team BOC 49 +1 lap 28
27 34 Dean Canto Garry Rogers Motorsport 49 +1 lap 23
28 26 Alan Gurr Irwin Racing 45 +4 laps 29
DNF 111 John Bowe Glenfords Racing 45 Accident 27
DNF 22 Todd Kelly Holden Racing Team 37 Brakes 5
DNS 25 Jason Bright Fujitsu Racing

Race 2 results

edit
Pos No Name Team Laps Time/Retired Grid Points
1 16 Garth Tander Toll HSV Dealer Team 50 52:22.0384 1 24
2 1 Rick Kelly Toll HSV Dealer Team 50 +1.066sec 2 20
3 2 Mark Skaife Holden Racing Team 50 +1.4294sec 3 17
4 17 Steven Johnson Jim Beam Racing 50 +4.4689sec 5 15
5 18 Will Davison Jim Beam Racing 50 +5.2199sec 6 13
6 5 Mark Winterbottom Ford Performance Racing 50 +6.0923sec 12 12
7 51 Greg Murphy Tasman Motorsport 50 +6.3009sec 8 11
8 888 Craig Lowndes Team Vodafone 50 +7.1776sec 4 10
9 33 Lee Holdsworth Garry Rogers Motorsport 50 +7.3900sec 10 9
10 22 Todd Kelly Holden Racing Team 50 +7.5631sec 30 8
11 021 Paul Radisich Team Kiwi Racing 50 +8.3797sec 19 6
12 3 Jason Richards Tasman Motorsport 50 +8.8062sec 16 5
13 5 Steven Richards Ford Performance Racing 50 +9.089sec 9 4
14 9 Russell Ingall Stone Brothers Racing 50 +9.5472sec 18 3
15 39 Fabian Coulthard Team Sirromet Wines 50 +10.2393sec 20 2
16 7 Shane Price Jack Daniel's Racing 50 +10.8531sec 15
17 20 Paul Dumbrell Supercheap Auto Racing 50 +11.1693sec 21
18 8 Max Wilson WPS Racing 50 +11.4272sec 11
19 67 Paul Morris Team Sirromet Wines 50 +11.7709sec 17
20 111 John Bowe Glenfords Racing 50 +11.9025sec 29
21 26 Alan Gurr Irwin Racing 50 +12.5465sec 28
22 10 Jason Bargwanna WPS Racing 50 +12.6616sec 25
23 88 Jamie Whincup Team Vodafone 50 +13.0116sec 7
24 50 Cameron McConville Supercheap Auto Racing 50 +13.2679sec 22
25 34 Dean Canto Garry Rogers Motorsport 49 +1 lap 27
26 11 Jack Perkins Jack Daniel's Racing 49 +1 lap 24
27 14 Brad Jones Team BOC 49 +1 lap 23
28 12 Andrew Jones Team BOC 49 +1 lap 26
DNF 4 James Courtney Stone Brothers Racing 42 Engine 13
DNF 55 Steve Owen Autobarn Racing 42 Accident 14
DNS 25 Jason Bright Fujitsu Racing

Race 3 results

edit
Pos No Name Team Laps Time/Retired Grid Points
1 16 Garth Tander Toll HSV Dealer Team 50 52:25.6340 1 24
2 2 Mark Skaife Holden Racing Team 50 +0.6188sec 3 20
3 1 Rick Kelly Toll HSV Dealer Team 50 +10.3304sec 2 17
4 17 Steven Johnson Jim Beam Racing 50 +10.5142sec 4 15
5 5 Mark Winterbottom Ford Performance Racing 50 +13.4652sec 6 13
6 18 Will Davison Jim Beam Racing 50 +13.7493sec 5 12
7 22 Todd Kelly Holden Racing Team 50 +13.9252sec 10 11
8 888 Craig Lowndes Team Vodafone 50 +14.1343sec 8 10
9 6 Steven Richards Ford Performance Racing 50 +14.4642sec 13 9
10 4 Russell Ingall Stone Brothers Racing 50 +16.6701sec 14 8
11 33 Lee Holdsworth Garry Rogers Motorsport 50 +20.7623sec 9 6
12 51 Greg Murphy Tasman Motorsport 50 +21.4516sec 7 5
13 8 Max Wilson WPS Racing 50 +23.2679sec 18 4
14 111 John Bowe Glenfords Racing 50 +23.5954sec 20 3
15 67 Paul Morris Team Sirromet Wines 50 +24.4327sec 19 2
16 50 Cameron McConville Supercheap Auto Racing 50 +25.4782sec 24
17 39 Fabian Coulthard Team Sirromet Wines 50 +26.1079sec 15
18 88 Jamie Whincup Team Vodafone 50 +26.4622sec 23
19 3 Jason Richards Tasman Motorsport 50 +27.1296sec 12
20 7 Shane Price Jack Daniel's Racing 50 +27.5134sec 16
21 12 Andrew Jones Team BOC 50 +28.5265sec 28
22 021 Paul Radisich Team Kiwi Racing 50 +30.2884sec 11
23 10 Jason Bargwanna WPS Racing 50 +30.7163sec 22
24 55 Steve Owen Autobarn Racing 50 +31.4202sec 30
25 11 Jack Perkins Jack Daniel's Racing 50 +31.9292sec 26
26 14 Brad Jones Team BOC 50 +31.6301sec 27
27 26 Alan Gurr Irwin Racing 50 +41.525sec 21
28 34 Dean Canto Garry Rogers Motorsport 49 +1 lap 25
DNF 4 James Courtney Stone Brothers Racing 28 Accident 29
DNF 20 Paul Dumbrell Supercheap Auto Racing 7 17
DNS 25 Jason Bright Fujitsu Racing

In-Car Camera Coverage

edit

The six cars carrying cameras at this round were those of Rick Kelly, Mark Skaife, Russell Ingall, Jamie Whincup, Max Wilson and Paul Dumbrell.

edit
Supercars Championship
Previous race:
2007 Clipsal 500
2007 Supercars Championship Next race:
2007 PlaceMakers V8 Supercars
Previous year:
2006 Perth V8 400
BigPond 400 Next year:
2008 BigPond 400