Heimgartner's quest to be 'untouchable'

Prior form and favourable weather conditions has Andre Heimgartner eager to return to Tailem Bend.

The 2022 season resumes at The Bend Motorsport Park this weekend.

It was at The Bend last May that Heimgartner made his presence felt with a commanding performance.

Heimgartner, then driving a Kelly Grove Mustang, left the field for dead in changeable conditions.

The Kiwi belted the field in qualifying before bolting away for career win No. 1 in start No. 161.

He even managed to put a gap on the field despite copping a time penalty for a pit lane infringement.

Heimgartner has proven the buy of the season so far, and is on an 11-race top 10 streak.

He sits eighth overall and just 99 points from sixth, a smart turnaround considering he was 18th after Albert Park.

Only Shane van Gisbergen, Cam Waters, Anton De Pasquale and Will Davison have scored more points than Heimgartner since.

Critically, showers are forecast for Sunday, with dual qualifying sessions and two 24-lap sprints scheduled.

However, Heimgartner isn’t taking anything for granted.

“We’ll wait and see. You never want to get too ahead of yourself,” the Brad Jones Racing driver told Supercars.com.

“Nothing is guaranteed this weekend. New team, new car for me.

"You can’t just bolt a set-up in and win again, but I know what I need out of the car and myself.

“Especially when it’s wet. In those conditions last year, we were untouchable.

Win No. 1 last May

“If those conditions come again, hopefully we’ll be able to repeat last year and win.”

Heimgartner has been fast at The Bend in Altimas and Mustangs, and has eight top 10s in 13 starts.

Podiums in Perth and Winton, two vastly different tracks, proved BJR has a package for all conditions.

Heimgartner also paced Friday practice in Townsville, and was in the mix all weekend.

The Bend has proven a Mustang stronghold, the Ford model winning 10 of 11 races since 2019.

However, should BJR get the #8 R&J Batteries Commodore in the window this weekend, Heimgartner will be hard to stop.

Nick Percat raced the car from last to fifth in the same race Heimgartner won last May.

'We’re not yet at our potential, which is promising'

“Going to a track you previously won at gives you confidence,” Heimgartner said.

“I’ve always had pretty good form there. It’s a bit of perfect storm, but it suits my style as well.

“It’s hard to put my finger on exactly what works for me there.

“Winton, Darwin, The Bend work for me; Townsville isn’t a strong track, but we managed to be fast.

"We’re on a good run, we’ve had some good results. We’re not yet at our potential, which is promising.

"Week in week out, we can be contesting for podiums. We need a bit more consistency in race pace.

“Everyone at BJR is working really hard, and we’re making steps in the right direction.”

Cars will hit the track at the OTR SuperSprint on Saturday. Purchase your tickets now.