It's over for 2012

I’m third and 245 points behind Jamie Whincup so mathematically it is still possible, but realistically it’s over for 2012. The problem for me is the consistency of Jamie and the reliability of today’s race cars. 

Back in the third round in April in Tassie, I had my incident with Will Davison that put us out of the points. Because of the other drivers’ consistency and car reliability, it’s taken me all year to claw my way back into contention.

Now with just three rounds to go, there is simply not enough time left. But as I said before, so long as I have a wheel in my hands and four on the ground, I will keep fighting. For me, the fight is for second place with Frosty.

Last weekend’s round at Surfers Paradise was plagued by the starting line crashes on Saturday. They marred an otherwise perfect weekend of spectacular racing for the fans. As I’ve said before, these cars are really difficult to get off the line and most of the international drivers have no experience at all in stationary starts.

They are very experienced and highly skilled drivers, but this type of start is completely foreign to them. However, some of the drivers are so talented they overcame their lack of experience with stationary starts to do really well.

For example, my co-driver, Richard Lyons, performed four starts over the weekend and on each one he made up positions. Maybe it’s time we caught up with the rest of the world and had rolling starts; at least at street circuits where the track is really narrow and there is no run-off.

Rolling starts are just as exciting as stationary starts and they have their own difficulties and techniques. I did a rolling start at Phillip Island with the Audi this year and it took me back to my go-kart days. I wasn’t surprised that there were more stalled cars on the second and third starts because the clutch heats up and makes it even more difficult to get it off the line.

Apart from annoying the fans with delays over the two red-flagged starts, it also spelt disaster for Garry Rogers Motorsport with both of their cars out for the day. This highlights the problem with Abu Dhabi as the next round because the cars have to be on the transport plane so soon.

Often teams have major repairs after a street circuit so it is a nightmare if the next round is overseas. Next year it’s an even tighter turnaround as the Surfers Paradise event has been moved back and we have to be in Abu Dhabi the following weekend.

That’s if the Queensland Government doesn’t pull out its support for the race altogether. I’m going to the MotoGP this weekend to see Casey Stoner race in his last two-wheeled event on Phillip Island. Hopefully he can finish with a win and the next time he’s back there he has four wheels under him.