No hard feelings for Golding, PremiAir over Feeney clash

James Golding plays down Broc Feeney clash
Feeney was penalised over lap 1 incident with Golding
Golding recovered to fifth after dropping to eighth

James Golding and PremiAir Nulon Racing have shrugged off a first-lap clash with Broc Feeney, on a day the team could have scored its maiden Supercars podium.

Golding surged from fourth to second around the first corner, rounding up pole-sitter Feeney in the process.

Into The Chase towards the end of the first lap, Feeney hit the rear of Golding’s #31 PremiAir Nulon Chevrolet, sending the latter through the grass.

Golding rejoined eighth, while Feeney was handed a five-second penalty over the clash.

PremiAir Nulon Racing quickly thought on their feet, working the #31 back into the race with a clever strategy and car speed.

While a first podium went begging, Golding didn’t hold any hard feelings.

“It was a pretty awesome day for us in the #31. We qualified into the Top Ten Shootout and managed top put the car on P4,” said Golding, who is 10th in the points.

“I had an awesome start and got right behind Chaz [Mostert] and was settling in for what I was hoping was going to be an awesome race.

“Unfortunately we got caught up in a bit of mischief with Broc down at The Chase and dropped all the way back to eighth, but those things happen – everyone is trying as hard as they can, that’s racing.

“We just pressed on and were able to claw our way back again, the car had really good speed and we ended up finishing in fifth position which is a solid start to the championship for us."

PremiAir Nulon Racing Team Manager Stephen Robertson said Feeney apologised over the incident, which the team accepted.

Despite the early drama, Robertson was pleased his team could rally and secure a strong finish in just the second race of the season.

“It was a big day for PremiAir Nulon Racing and what a start from Jimmy in particular, he was right in there in P2, and things were looking really great on that opening lap for the #31,” Robertson said.

“Unfortunately, that got taken away with the contact from Feeney – for which he was served a penalty and also apologised which we appreciate.

"But we put our heads down and did the work and were able to claw it back to P5 by the end of the race which we are very proud of.”

It was a tougher race for teammate Tim Slade, who recovered to 17th despite being caught up in the melee off the line, before hitting the tyre wall at pit entry.

“We (the #23 and the #31) were not too far apart when we started the weekend, we were pretty similar (set-up wise)," Slade said.

"But yeah, we were nowhere really and were battling a lack of speed and a lack of turn all weekend.

“We need to find the answer to that. It is awesome to be working with Mirko [De Rosa, Race Engineer] again though.”

PremiAir Nulon Racing is eighth in the teams' points heading to the next round, the Melbourne SuperSprint on March 21-24.