The GT Motorsport crew is confident it will have its Audi R8 LMS repaired following a race ending crash in the opening race of the 2017 CAMS Australian GT Championship season.
Having qualified third, Nathan Antunes made a lightning start to sit second behind stable-mate Kelvin van der Linde in the opening stages.
The early pace was relentless, Antunes running at nearly lap record pace in the opening laps as those at the front stretched their legs.
However a mistake at the start of lap five saw the car bounce over the kerbing at turn two and spin into the barrier.
The incident was enough to draw the safety car as officials worked to clear the stricken car, setting up Tony Bates with a chance to win his maiden Australian GT Championship race.
The team however remains confident that the car will return to the circuit for tomorrow’s second race.
The left rear corner of the car bore the brunt of the incident, with the left rear suspension needing to be replaced, with only minor repairs needed elsewhere.
Should it make the start of Race 2 it will take the green flag from the rear of the grid, though with a shorter pit stop time the Antunes/Greg Taylor remain optimistic of their chances for the remainder of the weekend.
Race 2 gets underway at 9:10 on Saturday (March 4) morning, with live coverage on Fox Sports (Channel 506).
