Tander plays down Top 10 Shootout after qualifying drama

Last year’s Bathurst winner Garth Tander has played down the importance of today’s (Saturday) Top 10 Shootout at Mount Panorama as the Western Australian bids to resurrect his season.

The Holden Racing Team driver has endured an indifferent campaign this year and said before the event only victory at Bathurst would make up for his 2012 disappointments. Tander, who held off Craig Lowndes and Mark Skaife for victory last year, scraped through qualifying yesterday after an eventful session. After winning from ninth on the grid in 2011, he revealed a successful run in the Top 10 Shootout isn’t crucial for glory at the Mountain.

Tander brought out the red flags in the early stages in qualifying when a lock up forced him into the barriers at Griffins Bend. Luckily the car was not too badly damaged and he was able to rejoin the session, eventually posting the eighth quickest time, which was good enough for a place in the Top 10 Shootout.

He said: “It’s not really the most important Top 10 Bathurst shootout as we won the race from ninth on the grid last year. It’s a long race and you have just got to get through the shootout really. Ideally you’d like to start from the front but we were provisionally pole last year before we had rain and we won from ninth.”

With such an honour at stake for one lucky driver pairing to lift the famous Peter Brock Trophy at the 50 year celebration of Bathurst, Tander believes the field will be clever and won’t take any unnecessary risks during the Top 10 Shootout.

Tander added: “I don’t think people will take more risks. It is all about Sunday and the race. The 10 of us are smart but everyone wants to win Bathurst regardless.”

The Top 10 Shootout to decide the full qualifying positions for Sunday’s ‘Great Race’ will begin at 16:30 AEST (7:30 BST).