MEDIA RELEASE
Sunday 1 March, 2015
Courtney goes back to back in second highest Sunday
Holden Racing Team has dominated the 17th Clipsal 500 Adelaide with James Courtney claiming backto-back victories on the Adelaide Street Circuit.
Courtney took the overall points and the all-important win in the 250km Sunday race, but it wasn’t
without a fight from Shane Van Gisbergan who fell agonizingly short and Garth Tander who put in a
spirited effort to finish third.
A race full of drama until the very end, marked the first time in three years since a Red Bull driver
wasn’t on the podium, something that Courtney wasn’t complaining about.
“It was a great effort from the boys and to go back to back is an awesome start to the year at HRT and
it’s great to have someone different winning the races,” Courtney said.
Qualifying was just as electrifying as drivers continued to build on their speed from Saturday, with Van
Gisbergan showing his speed early with a new lap record around the Adelaide Street Circuit, but
inevitably it wasn’t enough as Courtney took pole position in the top ten shoot out and hours later
claimed his second Clipsal 500 Adelaide trophy.
The heat subsided for the 93,600 fans who witnessed Courtney’s heroics, with the crowd the second
highest Sunday attendance ever and third largest overall crowd figure in the events 17 year history.
If the Toyo Tyres Stadium Super Trucks wasn’t already entrenched in race fans memories, then the fast
flying finish from owner Robby Gordon and teenage sensation Sheldon Creed is sure to make
highlights reels all over the world. Creed, who ended up on his roof just meters from the finish line but
still managed to tumble across the line in third place, helped cap off a spectacular finish to an
unbelievable debut for the Stadium Super Trucks.
Gordon said he was ecstatic with how the weekend of racing played out.
“When we first started talking about Adelaide I pulled up Youtube and thought what is this event, I
pulled up the finish between Whincup and Scott last year and thought that was awesome, but I think
Sheldon might’ve just topped that one, I’ve never seen a car roll across the finish line,” Gordon said.
“The race track and the facility in Adelaide is one of the finest temporary circuits I’ve ever seen in my
life … it’s a first class effort all the way through,” he said.
The SST’s weren’t the only success of the day as all support race categories provided entertainment for
race fans.
Steven Richards took out the final race in the Porsche Carrerra Cup, while Andrew Miedecke mirrored
Courtney’s efforts in going back-to-back with another Sunday win in the Touring Car Masters.
Chris Walton took out the final V8 Ute race, whilst seven of the most expensive Australian GT cars at
the Clipsal 500 created carnage after a huge chicane crash moments after the rolling start of the third
and final race of the Australian GT Championship.
If the days racing wasn’t spectacular enough, punters will be making their way to the concert oval to
watch Adelaide’s own Cold Chisel continue the party when they reunite to commemorate the 40th
anniversary of the band.
With the likes of Spiderbait and 100 Proof warming up the crowd of 40,000 plus expected to make it to
the concert, Clipsal 500 CEO Mark Warren said watching them perform will be perfect ending to one of
the most successful Clipsal 500 Adelaide’s to date.
“To have a legendary Australian rock band here for their 40th anniversary is a fantastic result for the
event, and an extraordinary way to cap off what has been a very successful 2015 event”.
- Ends For further details please contact: Steve Cox, Elite Sports Properties on behalf of Clipsal 500 Adelaide,
0423 298 665 / [email protected]