Source :- PERTH NOW NEWS
Mark Winterbottom was relishing the beaming Northern Territory sun with a microphone in hand, looking forward to broadcasting the Darwin Triple Crown.
But in a flash, the 45-year-old was putting on a helmet, readying instead to light up Hidden Valley Raceway.
“At 1.00 pm, I was commentating. At 2.00pm, I drove out of the pit lane in Supercars, so it was all very last-minute,” Winterbottom told AAP.
“I wanted to be comfortable, but I couldn’t because I had to go and do a driver’s briefing. It was really weird.”
The 2015 champion was thrust into the Tickford Racing suit after Thomas Randle was declared unfit to race on Sunday.
It came after the 30-year-old’s cool suit failed at the start of Saturday’s 200km race, and he was seen for heat stress post-race.
Randle had already taken the grid earlier in the day for qualifying as his lingering heat issues caught up to him, meaning Winterbottom didn’t even get a moment with the car in the blistering conditions.
To add to the challenge, he also hadn’t driven a solo race since 2024.
“Really, it’s the first time I’ve ever driven without expectation … A little bit more prep next time would be nice, but it was really cool to jump in and just have some fun,” Winterbottom said.
“We’ve got big egos as drivers, and you always back yourself.
“But once I had a drama in the pits, I was miles behind, so I just used it as good practice.”
Winterbottom was selected as he is an endurance co-driver with Tickford, meaning he will be in action when the Enduro Cup gets underway in September.
On Sunday, he finished 22nd, although Race Control ordered him to start at the back of the pack because he didn’t compete in qualifying.
Cam Waters, who claimed the Triple Crown and was Winterbottom’s teammate, revealed what he told the 45-year-old before the race.
“I just said have a few icy poles because it’s going to be hot out there,” Waters said.
“I just told him what my car balance was like to try and help him, but he’s just all about getting out there.”
Winterbottom can’t expect to receive another last-minute call-up, with Tickford’s chief executive Simon Brookhouse confirming that Randle will make a full recovery.
The next stage of Supercars will take place in Townsville, beginning on July 10, where Tickford will aim to close the gap between them and the second-placed Triple Eight Race Engineering team in the standings.
