First Toyota Win. Real Momentum. Plenty More to Come.

First Toyota Win. Real Momentum. Plenty More to Come.

Race wrap up by Chaz.

If you told me at the start of the year that we'd be celebrating our first pole position and race win in Toyota colours before the season hit the halfway mark, I'd have taken it. To walk away from Tasmania with both? That's something pretty special.

Symmons Plains delivered one of those weekends that reminds you why we do this. The highs were high, the lows were frustrating, but overall it feels like we're building something that can be seriously competitive week in, week out.

Saturday: Everything Clicked

We rolled into qualifying on Saturday with a fast car underneath us. The conditions were mixed and constantly changing, but the Mobil 1 Optus Toyota Supra felt comfortable from the moment we hit the track.

When the dust settled, we'd locked in our first-ever Toyota pole position. For everyone involved in this project, that was a huge milestone. A lot of work has gone into developing this package and it felt good to reward the team with a result like that.

The race itself was one of those rare days where everything comes together. We grabbed the lead early, the crew delivered an awesome pit stop, and from there I was able to control the race and build a gap.

Crossing the line first and delivering Toyota's breakthrough Supercars victory was a pretty cool moment. Seeing the smiles across the garage afterwards made it even more rewarding. The entire team has been working incredibly hard behind the scenes and this felt like a result everyone earned.

Sunday: A Reminder of How Tough This Sport Can Be

As quickly as motorsport can lift you up, it can humble you.

Race 15 was a tougher affair. A super competitive qualifying session left us outside the Top 10 Shootout, and after starting further back in the pack, things got messy early. Contact and a subsequent penalty dropped us to the rear of the field, leaving us with a mountain to climb.

The frustrating part was that the pace was still there. We were able to push hard and make progress, but sometimes the cards just don't fall your way. That's racing. You take the hit, learn from it, and move on.

Finishing Strong

The final race of the weekend was all about strategy.

Starting deep in the field meant we needed to make every opportunity count. With three compulsory pit stops in play, the team went to work and executed a smart race. We gained nine positions across the 200km contest and came home inside the top ten.

It wasn't quite enough laps to challenge further forward, but it showed the speed and racecraft we had all weekend.

Eyes on Darwin

When I look back at Tasmania, it's hard not to be encouraged.

A pole position. A race win. Strong race pace across the weekend. Most importantly, continued progress from the entire team and the Toyota Supra program.

We're heading in the right direction and there's still plenty more to come.

Now the focus shifts north to Darwin and the Indigenous Round. It's always a special event on the calendar and we've got a livery coming that I can't wait for everyone to see.

Bring on Darwin.

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