Top-10 effort for Walsh in new Falcon
IPSWICH racer Ash Walsh recorded a top-10 finish in his first outing in the new simPRO Racing/MSR Falcon FG.
He achieved the feat during Round 6 of the Dunlop V8 Supercar Development Series at Winton over the weekend.
By finishing eighth in race 1, Walsh started from third on the grid in race two and was quickly into second place.
When series leader Chaz Mostert brought out the safety car and following the restart, Walsh took the lead.
But it didn't last long.
An impossible lunge by Andy Jones hit both Ash and second-placed Geoff Emery.
Walsh regained the track in 12th spot and finished eighth, meaning he started the final race from sixth on the grid.
"The car was a lot better in the morning race and I thought we could bring home a race win, but it was not to be," Walsh said.
"It was a crazy race but being pushed off at the sweeper was pretty tough. Anyway, we have got a good strategy and tyre bank for the final."
For the final 12-lap race, Walsh soon dropped a spot but by mid-race was one of the fastest cars on track.
He managed to regain sixth spot but could not bridge the gap to next group, despite matching the leader's times in the final laps.
"It took a while for the car to come on at the start of the final race," the Yamanto-based 24-year-old said.
"Midway through the race, I was really quite comfortable with the balance and could push harder.
"We still are finding our way with the new car and we will look to learn from this race and come back strongly in Sydney."
The final round of the 2012 Dunlop Series is at the Sydney Telstra 500 in two weeks.
