There were predominantly smiles all round at Big Gun Racing this week after a satisfying weekend of competition at Winton Motor Raceway for Round Two of the 2010 Yokohama V8 Ute Series protected by Armor All.

Both Peter Burnitt and Brad Patton showed speed and consistency to record some of their best on-track performances since joining the series.

Patton led the second race of the weekend comprehensively, clocking up significant TV exposure for WICKED / CHILL and the associate Big Gun sponsors until the final lap when he made contact with second placed “Chucky” Baxter and spun the XR8 Falcon at the exit to the Esses.

“I could see Gary coming in the mirrors,” admitted Patton to the Channel Seven TV crew after the race, “and I thought it was probably a matter of time before he passed me. He got a good run on me into turn one and we went into the Esses side by side. Unfortunately as I over-corrected coming out of that corner to avoid hitting Gary I lost control and spun the car. It was a heart-breaking result considering we led every other lap!”

Patton’s adversary paid him a big compliment in return.

“Brad was faster than me at every point on the track except one corner,” admitted Baxter, “and I knew if I was going to have a crack at him it’d have to be turn one. I had a big go under brakes and was able to get alongside him. To his credit Brad never tried anything to cramp me, he just got sideways coming out of the corner and lost the car. I’m disappointed for him because he did a great job.”

Teammate Peter Burnitt was having trouble spinning tyres not spinning the car after a sensational weekend where he hovered in a window from 12th – 18th for the majority of the track time.

“My tyres were shot,” he grinned after a sensational finish to the final race of the round, “I obviously hadn’t bee looking after them but I was having such a fantastic time dicing for positions that I don’t normally get to. I guess I got a bit carried away but man I had a good time!”

Burnitt was inspired in the CNW #4 XR8 Falcon, coming away from the event at Winton with renewed confidence and vigour.

“This is probably my best weekend in Ute Racing aside from the first round when we broke the lap record at Clipsal with Chris Pither,” Burnitt grinned broadly, “I can see how people get addicted to this. It’s fantastic!”

Both Patton and Burnitt debuted new fan posters that looked sensational thanks to James Baker and were a real hit with those lucky enough to score one.

“I’m excited about this year,” admits Patton, “we’re on top of our game and the cars look the part. Joe (Devries) Jason Matthews and the Wilson Boys (Benn and Cameron) have the cars prepped magically. We’re in for a great year ahead.”

Patton timed in 11th and Burnitt 23rd in the maximum 32 car field for qualifying whilst Brad remained in 11th at the chequers for Race One – a result that would later reward him with a front row start for the next race due to the new V8 Utes inversion system.

Burnitt carved from 23rd to 18th and began to show a marked improvement in his lap times.

Patton led almost every bit of the second race before spinning out and re-joining in 14th by the fall of the chequers with Burnitt again rock solid in 19th position in his CNW Falcon.

In the final race of the weekend Peter Burnitt moved to as high as 13th position and eventually came home in 14th place despite his tortured tyres!

Brad Patton unfortunately suffered a blown engine in his WICKED / CHILL XR8 Falcon and had to watch from the sidelines.

“Normally it’d have been pretty distressing to sit on the infield and watch with a blown engine, but watching Pete racing so well was very satisfying. I was really to see him do so well.”

As the hydraulic lift gate on the Big Gun Transporter raised its cars into the underbelly, Team Manager Joe de Vries couldn’t help but wonder what might have been.

“The boys did a brilliant job, I’m just disappointed that the engine let us down. It’s very heartening to see the team perform so well though, it gives us plenty of confidence going into Darwin.”

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