- PremiAir team was contesting the Gold Coast 500 race
- Supercars outfit was left furious by ‘moronic’ thief
The PremiAir Supercars team has offered a reward for information identifying a ‘lowlife’ thief who stole a valuable piece of equipment out of one of their cars during the weekend’s Gold Coast 500 race.
While their drivers James Golding and Tim Slade were battling it out on the track, someone stole a steering wheel from a spare race car they were displaying so fans could have a closer look.
The team vented their anger online soon after realising the item was missing when they were packing up the Camaro at the end of the meet.
‘As if the weekend couldn’t get any worse,’ PremiAir wrote on Facebook.
‘After wrapping our spare car in Boost livery and putting it on display for fans to see up close, some lowlife decided to steal the steering wheel.
‘If anyone has any information, it would be greatly appreciated.
‘We always aim to bring fans closer to the action, and it’s disheartening when things like this happen.
‘It’s unfortunate that a few moronic acts can create barriers between the participants and the fans we want to connect with.
‘We’re just as shocked. It’s a disappointing end to what should have been a positive fan experience.’
PremiAir boss Peter Adderton offered a $1000 reward for information identifying the person behind the ‘low act’, with the wheel worth approximately $7000.
The results on the track did nothing to lift the team’s spirits, with Slade finishing 17th and 18th, and Golding coming in 16th and 13th in the weekend’s two races.
In other action on the Gold Coast, Brodie Kostecki backed up his Bathurst 1000 win by conquering the streets of Surfers Paradise, while Red Bull drivers Will Brown and Broc Feeney staged a pulsating showdown.
Erebus driver Kostecki was largely unchallenged as he pulled off a masterclass drive on Sunday to convert pole position into his first Gold Coast win after avoiding carnage early in the race.
It is the reigning Supercars champion’s second race win of the season after dominating Mount Panorama with co-driver Todd Hazelwood earlier this month.
‘Bathurst was a fairytale for us, and coming to this weekend we knew that we were going to be there or thereabouts,’ Kostecki said.
‘We showed up, still needed a few more fine tweaks but finally got the car back in the window today. It was a rocket.’
Series leader Brown prevailed over a cut-throat Feeney in a thrilling duel between the two Red Bulls to finish second and stay atop the standings.
Feeney remains Brown’s only opposition in the championship race, but admits his chances for a maiden title are slim.
‘I wish he (Brown) pulled over and let me through,’ Feeney said.
‘Every move around here comes with risk … I never had a good enough opportunity (to overtake).
‘It’s a long shot going to Adelaide, but we’re still in the hunt.
‘The pressure is a bit more off now.’
