The Bend may be unpredictable enough but Supercars’ newest track in South Australia looks set to throw up another variable on Sunday after Nissan’s resurgence at the $110 million circuit.
Normal service appeared to have resumed at the Tailem Bend track an hour’s drive from Adelaide on Saturday after a chaotic build-up.
Holden gun Shane van Gisbergen claimed victory at the remote circuit’s opening 120km race to reduce Ford gun Scott McLaughlin’s series lead to just 41 points.
However, Nissan appears set to mix things up again in Sunday’s 200km finale for the maiden The Bend SuperSprint round following their race one success.
Nissan’s Rick Kelly and Michael Caruso pressed hard in the opening 24-lap race to complete the podium respectively behind van Gisbergen.
It was Nissan’s first double podium since Winton in 2013.
And Kelly hinted that Nissan would again have a sniff on Sunday after just his fourth podium of the year which moved him into sixth in the championship.
“You get yourself into second and your first thought is ‘this is good, we’re on for a podium’,” Kelly said of pursuing Kiwi van Gisbergen.
“And then your mind quickly shifts to ‘there’s a race win just there in front’, so you try everything you can to get that.
“I think we’re close to getting the most out of it. There’s a couple of tweaks to tidy it up to go again tomorrow.”
Nissan Motorsport team manager Scott Sinclair hoped their best was yet to come on Sunday.
“There were plenty of opportunities to make a mistake and they didn’t,” he told speedcafe.com.au.
“It was probably one of those days where everything came together and it is easier to maintain race pace when you are out the front.”
All signs pointed to a wild opening race at The Bend after some of Supercars’ biggest names went off track time and again in practice and qualifying at the demanding 18-turn, 4.95km circuit.
Yet only one safety car emerged in The Bend’s opening 24-lap race after Holden veteran Garth Tander broke down following six laps.
McLaughlin looks set to be another big improver on Sunday after having to settle for sixth spot in The Bend’s opening race.
“We’ve taken steps in the right direction. We just need to find another big chunk of time,” McLaughlin said.
Qualifying for The Bend’s second race starts at 1120 AEST.
Race two starts at 1410 AEST.