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Kiwi driver Jason Richards could not convert his career first pole position into a podium finish in the opening race of the fifth round of the V8 Supercar Championship in Darwin today.
After languishing way off the pace in the previous stop in Tasmania, Richards’ Team BOC Holden crew found much improvement as Richards raced to pole position with a brilliant drive in the Top-10 Shootout at Hidden Valley.
However he had to settle for seventh place in the opening 100km race after he lost brakes with two laps to go and veered off the tracks.
Richards was rounded up at the start by current champion and series leader Jamie Whincup who went on to win.
But there is real confidence for Richards after his team made such big strides in the two weeks since Tasmania.
Richards said he felt that he had ‘lost his mojo’ recently. "It's amazing," the 33-year-old said. "I'd gone missing in the few race meetings so it's great to be back. I love this place.
"It’s good for Brad Jones Racing and Team BOC who have been battling for a number of years.”
Whincup took control e line to edge Richards and from there dominated in a hotly contested battle.
“It’s tough out there, it’s hot. It might look easy out there but it’s certainly not,” he said.
“It was great to have a green race and get out there and battle. A few concerns, it’s going to be a long way. The heat’s there and the peddles get hot; you wake up with sore legs and a sore shoulder so it’s going to be very tough.”
He finished ahead of Mark Winterbottom (Ford Performance), showing a welcome return to form, with Holden’s Will Davison third.
His team-mate and former champion Garth Tander was third ahead of Todd Kelly, Craig Lowndes and Richards who could not convert his great speed in qualifying.
Earlier, Richards provided the team and himself with his first pole position. The Albury-based outlet was rewarded for years of toil and on and off success with the payday of their lives. It was not lost in the team garage afterwards.
Richards was the only New Zealander in the top-10 with Fabian Coulthard (Wilson Security Ford) 12th, Shane Van Gisbergen (SV Tools Ford) 20th after he was second fastest in practice, Steven Richards (Ford Performance) 22nd and Greg Murphy (Sprint Gas Holden) 23rd.
There is a further qualifying session tomorrow ahead of the longer 200km, 60 lap race.
