News
Tracey: From the medical centre to the Bathurst podium
BLAKE Tracey’s breakthrough podium in the Trico Trans Am Series at Bathurst on Sunday came in trying circumstances, with the rookie driver checking himself out of the medical centre to compete in Sunday’s race.
After a promising run at the season-opening round at Symmons Plains Raceway was cut short with a mechanical failure, Tracey finished seventh in the first race at Mount Panorama.
In the second 45-minute-long race, a slick track saw several of the front-running cars caught out, with the Auto Openers Mustang driver one to thread the needle as cars scattered in The Esses.
Following ratification of the results after a red flag ended the race, Tracey placed third behind the Mustangs of round winner Todd Hazelwood (TFH Racing) and Nathan Herne (BlueGold Industries).
However, Tracey’s mere participation in the race was in doubt up until the moment the cars rolled out of the paddock.
“We wrapped up Saturday, it was a pretty cool day, it was obviously my first long race, 45 minutes, and coming from Excels, where we were only doing 15, 20-minute races, and those are nowhere near as intense,” said Tracey.
“I was in a recovery mode straight away, smashing waters and trying to have food.
“I felt a bit nauseous, I went back to the accom and I was so tired, like I’m pretty fit, but I jumped straight into bed at 8:30pm and I was out.
“I woke up at 3am and had my head over a toilet bowl from 3am to 7am.
“Obviously, the team was worried and were umming and ahhing if we were going to go racing or not.
“Dad made the call, I went down to the medical centre, and they whacked me on the drip, literally from 8:30am, I was on the drip until 10 minutes before the race.
“I walked straight from the medical centre to the race car and strapped in for one of the toughest races, but it was a good race and a great result, finishing in P3.
“It was just mentally tough, under the safety car, I was gagging when the adrenaline wore off, but the race finished under the red flag, thankfully, because I don’t think I could have gone any longer.
“I jumped straight out of the car and to the back of the pits spewing my guts up… so a massive thank you to the Racing Academy, my family and the medical staff in Bathurst, they really helped me out, without the drip I would have been in a bit of strife.”
Next up for the Trico Trans Am Series is Hidden Valley Raceway from June 20-22 alongside the Repco Supercars Championship.