There is no better way to describe round five of the Dunlop Super 2 Championship for Rylan Gray than an absolute dream weekend.
The Denman teenager went into the Bathurst 1000 weekend knowing how well he had performed on the track on debut for Tickford Autosport back in February, and has proven that he and the most respected track in Australia have a connection after coming away with two podium finishes and the round win.
He also now holds the title of the youngest Super 2 round winner, a title that has previously been held by the likes of Broc Feeney, Scott McLaughlin and Chaz Mostert to name a few.
“It is pretty hard to sum up, but to get a round win on the biggest stage at the Bathurst 1000 is pretty cool,” Rylan shared not long after coming down from the Mount Panorama podium.
“Got qualifying sorted for the first time this year, put it p3 both races, and finished p3 in both races, which was good enough for the round win.
“We knew we had a lot of speed coming here from early on in the year, so we’re pretty happy to wrap it up.”
In practice on Thursday Rylan showed how comfortable he was with the circuit and his consistency across the weekend is what afforded him the round win as other competitors struck issues in their qualifying and races.
On debut in Super 2 at Bathurst back in February Rylan was named Rooky of the Round, a title he received this round as well, which begs the question of what it is about the challenging circuit that just clicks for him.
“It’s high commitment, I think I learned that from a young age that I gelled really well with it, and the Tickford guys have done an outstanding job this weekend, the car’s been awesome,” Rylan told The Hunter River Times.
Rylan is currently sitting eighth in the Super 2 series with one round left to go, being the Adelade 500 from November 14 to 17, where he hopes to continue the Bathurst momentum and enjoy a respectable finish to his debut year with the Tickford Autosport team.
-JEM ANSHAW
