BATHURST TOP TEN FOR OJEDA
Jayden Ojeda paired up with Jack Le Brocq in the Truck Assist Racing Camaro had the best-ever finish for Matt Stone Racing, finishing ninth in the 2023 Repco Bathurst 1000.
“So happy with a top 10 on the mountain” said Jayden, “We crossed the line 9th today, and was fighting for a top five finish before a delayed pit stop dropped us back. It was a mega job from the Matt Stone Racing team, and Jack Le Brocq this enduro season. It’s been a fun couple of months”.
Jack started the race, after qualifying in 15th on the Saturday and drove the first stint, when the team decided to pit stop early to undercut a few cars, which ended up jumping car #34 into 7th on the road. A safety car came out a few laps later bunching the field back up, with a lot of cars pitting under the safety car and were then on newer tyres.
Jaydens first stint was strong, managing to keep several main drivers behind him, and maintaining the pace of the main drivers in front, as well picking off a few other co- drivers with decisive passes. MSR ran the stint out, before pitting under the next safety car, along with most of the field. Several cars short filled on fuel to buy track position, with Car 34 rejoining in 12th, with Jayden remaining in the car.
During Jayden’s second stint he managed to drive back up to 8th, even battling for several laps with Jamie Whincup, before pitting and handing over to Jack.
Le Brocq completed a single stint handing the car back over to Jayden in 8th position for his final stint. Another strong stint saw Jayden finish the stint within the 10, Jayden handed back to Jack and on this pit stop the had planned to do the mandatory front brake discs and rotors change which dropped them down the order to 12th Nonetheless Jack managed to work his way back to 9th which is where Car 34 finished the Great Race!
“Stoked to get my first top 10 at the Bathurst 1000 with Jack and MSR,” said Jayden. “As always there’s a few ifs, buts and maybes, but I think with such a long race everyone has a bit of a story of what could have been”.
“We were fighting in the top 6-7 for most of the day until we lost some time from a few minor issues, but all in all a clean race from myself, Jack, and the team.
“It was a great day for me, Juice, and MSR” said Jack Le Brocq, the Primary Driver of #34. “We tracked along and tried to stay out of trouble, we had some really good speed at the end and Juice did an awesome job. It’s a shame those two stints in the middle there, we had two lots of extra fuel and had a little over-heating issue and that sort of hurt us, we lost some speed in those stints there. That’s the way it went, we stayed out of trouble and pressed on and came home with P9 so absolutely stoked.”
“So happy, its awesome to be a part of what is MSR’s best finish at Bathurst, and it’s a testament to the team and the year they’re having. They have been awesome and seriously punching above their weight as a team,” said Jayden.
“The Gen 3 car was different compared to last year, especially across the top of the mountain, you didn’t have support of the aero to lean on and the lighter car made it more sensitive over all the rises on the track, especially as you lost the tyres into a stint”.
“It was awesome to have genuine pace during the race after Saturday neither Jack or I were overly happy with our car, so we threw the toolbox at it overnight and it was a much nicer car come the race, it was great to battle at the front with a lot of the main drivers, I really enjoyed it. It’s awesome to get a top 10 here at the Bathurst 1000 and really happy with my effort today” Jayden added.
“I really would like to thank all my partners, including City Hino, AJM Transport, Johnny H, That Patio Guy, Nepean Regional Security, Ultum, Martcom and Atkinson Pontifex for supporting me throughout the enduro season” said Jayden.
