Frustrated Heimgartner details Winterbottom clash

Andre Heimgartner has revealed a qualifying run-in with Mark Winterbottom set the duo on a collision course in Saturday’s race, with the Brad Jones Racing driver penalised.

Heimgartner was hit with a 15-second penalty after sending Winterbottom into a spin at Turn 4 on the final lap of Saturday's Race 17.

The penalty dropped Heimgartner from 13th to 22nd, with Winterbottom classified 18th.

Speaking after Sunday’s practice session, Heimgartner claimed Winterbottom held him up in qualifying, with both drivers knocked out of Q2.

Heimgartner was then seen talking to Winterbottom in the Team 18 garage after Q2.

When asked about the situation, Heimgartner said: “There’s a bit more to the story than that.

"He knows what happened, so hopefully we won’t block me in qualifying and we won’t have another issue.

“I asked him to apologise and he didn’t see anything wrong with it. I didn’t necessarily mean to take him out [in the race] but it’s unfortunate.

“We’ll see what happens today and hopefully we can get away with not getting held up in qualifying.”

Heimgartner admitted frustrations have started to boil over after a difficult season; in the 16 races beyond his Taupō win, the Kiwi has an average finish of 14.5.

It comes after Heimgartner told Supercars.com in the lead-up to Tasmania that he had found 2024 to be "confusing," following BJR's run to third in last year's teams' championship.

“I think this year has really tipped me on the edge, so it has not taken much to really piss me off lately,” added Heimgartner, who was third in Practice 3.

“So a warning to everyone else — if you don’t want to be in my sights, then don’t piss me off."

Supercars will return on Sunday with Boost Mobile Qualifying at 12:50pm AEST, which will set the grid for Race 18 at 3:05pm.