MATTFactor: Austrian peak

It’s been an incredible couple of weeks that have had highs and lows. Fortunately, the high is the thing that stands out the most!

Winning my first Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup race at the Red Bull Ring was an incredible experience and something I’ll remember forever.

The lead up to the Austrian round of the championship was exciting, following on from our Carrera Cup Germany Round at the same track a couple of weeks prior. At that round, we had really good speed and grabbed a pole, a race win and another podium against quite a lot of the Supercup field. That meant I was confident going into Austrian race.

Then when we got back to Austria for the Formula 1 weekend and the Supercup event, we had a slight setup issue in practice which detuned things a little. Fortunately the team was able to find and resolve that ahead of qualifying.

We knew going into qualifying the car was capable but the session had its ups and downs. We lost our first fast lap with a red flag -- so half way through the session we still didn't have a good time. Then, we got some clear track towards the end of the session and was able to grab pole!

Qualifying is so important in Supercup because the cars are identical and the field is so evenly matched. But even more important is getting a good start.

Come race time I got the start I needed and while the field battled behind me I was able to grab a gap and maintain it through to the end of the race.

Well, that was the plan – with only two laps to go with a comfortable lead, I saw a car in the gravel and moments later a Safety Car board! I couldn’t believe it! I didn’t know if that would end the race, given it was so close to the finish, but as things turned out the result was a one-lap sprint.

Thankfully I got a good jump (again!) and managed to maintain the position to the line.. But the whole arrangement added some stress I didn’t need!

It was an awesome weekend to win, especially given that weekend was the first time that my family had made it over to watch me race. I could even see them in the grandstand while I was on the podium, which was special!

Added to that Mark Webber and some of the biggest names in the Australian motor racing media were over for the weekend to watch me race -- so I timed the win perfectly..

Opposite result
After the high of Austria, last weekend at Silverstone was the opposite. Both myself and teammate Josh Webster really struggled for speed at the home of the Grand Prix of Great Britain – especially in the race.

After qualifying sixth I made a good start – and that was the high point of the race! For most of the rest of it I was in a three-way battle and not able to move forward.

It definitely was a tough weekend.

The next stop for us is Hungary in under two weeks’ time, and like Austria, it’s a track where I have already been. That’s a big confidence booster after having a poor round like Silverstone.

Budapest is more of an old school track; it’s shorter and tighter than others on the calendar. It will also be the hottest of the year, with temperatures getting up to 35-38 degrees, which adds another element to the weekend – and a lot different to testing and racing when there is snow still around the pits!

Thinking Supercars
Lastly, while I was having such a great weekend in Austria, it was great to see what was going on back at home, with the Red Bull Holden Racing Team getting up on the streets of Townsville.

Jamie [Whincup]’s win was great and Shane [van Gisbergen] had another podium which is a good sign as we get closer to the enduros.

There’s only three Supercup rounds left in Europe before I come back home for the Sandown 500. I’m already looking forward to that battle!