Seventh for Rick Kelly as carnage reins in final Grand Prix V8 race

MELBOURNE – Rick Kelly finished as the highest-placed Nissan Motorsport driver in the final race at the Australian Grand Prix yesterday.

Kelly brought his Jack Daniel's Nissan home in seventh place, avoiding the carnage that unfolded behind him at the start of the 12-lap race.

On combined points across the four races, Kelly finished seventh overall.

While Rick complete a quartet of top 10 results, the other Nissan drivers weren't so fortunate.

James Moffat was the unluckiest of the team after he was rammed from behind at the rolling start.

Having started 11th and looking to make inroads, the Steadfast Nissan driver received significant damage to Altima. The crew repaired his car and went on to finish 18th.

And thanks to Moffat's solid results over the course of the four races, he finished 11th overall.

Todd Kelly, driving the Autodesk Nissan, finished 12th in yesterday's race and 10th overall while Michael Caruso was 15th and 18th overall.

The next event of the V8 Supercars Championship will be held at Symmons Plains Raceway for the Tyrepower Tasmania SuperSprint in two weeks time.

Rick Kelly, #15 Jack Daniel's Nissan Altima V8

"It's great to be able to carry that consistency throughout the whole weekend," said Rick Kelly.

"This event can result in carnage, as we saw with that opening race start, so to come away from the weekend with minimal damage and a straight car is a good result.

"We tried some different things throughout the weekend – made the car handle differently and definitely made some gains. We just need to piece all of that together now and learn from it.

"To have four top-tens, and move in closer on the top-five, it's quite exciting.

"We can leave here with a grin on our face, not too excited because we would like to be higher, but it shows good consistency and progress."

James Moffat, Steadfast Nissan Altima V8

"That's just the type of thing that can happen with those ridiculous rolling starts," said James Moffat.

"All it takes is one person to go when others are not and all you end up with is a chain reaction. I got hit up the rear like you would not believe and I was quite lucky that my car did not get turned around – that would have been a bit more messy.

"I'm annoyed that we've torn up a race car again with a lot of front and rear damage. That's part of racing, but in this case, very unnecessary.

"With a short turnaround to Symmons Plains, the boys will have more work on than they should have, but fortunately, I have one of the best crews in pit-lane, so I have no doubt they'll get the thing straightened up and sorted for Tassie."

Todd Kelly, #7 Autodesk Nissan Altima V8

"I was right in the middle of that whole thing and managed to lose a few spots while I was trying to avoid some of the stuff that was going on around me," said Todd Kelly.

"There were cars that clearly jumped the start, and with the Safety Car, I thought that they'd be able to readdress the positions, but nothing seemed to change.

"I had to then pass all the cars that I really shouldn't have had to.

"Overall, our weekend was OK. We ended up with the worst tires we had in our bank and the car was by far the best it had been."

Michael Caruso, NISMO Nissan Altima V8

"At events like this when there's little on offer, it's good to come out with a straight car," said Michael Caruso.

"Anyone who watched that last race, I think most will agree that it looked like everyone's place on the grid was on the line. There was some ridiculous driving going on.

"I'm just glad we've still got a brand-new car, because there's a few sorry ones out there.

"We had a bit of sped in that last race which was good and lets hope that we can carry that momentum into Tassie."

RESULTS

Race 1

1. Mark Winterbottom
2. Chaz Mostert
3. James Courtney
4. Shane Van Gisbergen
5. Fabian Coulthard
6. Jamie Whincup
7. Tim Slade
8. Rick Kelly
9. Craig Lowndes
10. Garth Tander
11. James Moffat
13. Todd Kelly
20. Michael Caruso

Race 2

1. Mark Winterbottom
2. Chaz Mostert
3. Shane Van Gisbergen
4. James Courtney
5. Jamie Whincup
6. Rick Kelly
7. Tim Slade
8. Fabian Coulthard
9. Garth Tander
10. Craig Lowndes
11. James Moffat
13. Todd Kelly
20. Michael Caruso

Race 3

1. Mark Winterbottom
2. Chaz Mostert
3. Shane Van Gisbergen
4. James Courtney
5. Tim Slade
6. Jamie Whincup
7. Garth Tander
8. Rick Kelly
9. Nick Percat
10. Craig Lowndes
13. James Moffat
15. Todd Kelly
21. Michael Caruso

Race 4

1. Mark Winterbottom
2. Chaz Mostert
3. Shane Van Gisbergen
4. James Courtney
5. Jamie Whincup
6. Garth Tander
7. Rick Kelly
8. Tim Slade
9. David Reynolds
10. Lee Holdsworth
12. Todd Kelly
15. Michael Caruso
18. James Moffat

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