V8 Supercars.com.au (Apr 14, 2003) - After the initial disappointment of qualifying at Philip Island in 31st position, TKR V8 Supercar Driver Craig Baird pushed himself and the TKR 021 Commodore to the limits and on occasions beyond to move up from 31st position on the 32 car grid to finish in a respectful 19th position at the end of the shortened 300km race.

The conditions for the race started perfectly with blue sky but towards the middle of the race that had all changed.

The sky opened up and gave a spectacular display of what the fast and unforgiving Philip Island weather is notorious for.

Making it almost impossible to distinguish one car from another, what was the circuit and what was the sea in addition to a number of cars sliding off the track, the race was soon placed under safety car conditions.

After several laps behind the safety car the inevitable was decided that on lap 54 of 67 the race would be red flagged as rain continued to fall harder and harder making it impossible to race safely in such atrocious conditions.

Despite TKR being disappointed with the straight-line speed of the ex Garth Tander VX, Team Kiwi Racing continued to stay ahead of last years results at each circuit they have raced at this year and are currently 19th in the Australian V8 Supercar Championship.

"I hope we can get the issue of straight-line speed sorted before the next meeting as this has been an issue we have been battling with for three meetings now."

"The data from the car shows I am braking later and carrying greater speed through the corner and onto the straights than TKR did last year but we are being passed by our competition down the straight who obviously have much better horsepower at this point of time," said Craig Baird.

The next V8 Supercar meeting is at Eastern Creek in Sydney on the 2nd - 4th May 2003.