Erebus Motorsport’s David Reynolds has scored ninth at Barbagallo Raceway after a challenging day in the West.

David Reynolds started qualifying strongly, with changes proving positive from practice.

The #9 driver was on his fast lap, but a small mistake through the mid-section of the circuit cost him time and positions, ultimately starting Race 7 from 12^th.

His teammate Dale Wood was just 0.15-seconds away and would line up from 21^st on the grid.

The lights went out on Race 7 and it was Wood who got the better start, shooting up a spot in the opening lap.

Reynolds spent his first 19-laps trailing the back of Todd Kelly before pitting early and jumping the train.

A quick stop saw Reynolds emerge on four new tyres and skip six spots. Wood was called to pit six laps later, emerging 18^th as the field cycled through their stops.

Both Holden’s showed strong pace early in their second stint, Wood producing some quick lap times before a big moment in the final laps saw him drop down the ladder.

The #99 driver gathered it back up and continued to cross the finish line in 21^st.

Reynolds climbed as high as 7^th place before giving Lowndes a little rattle.

Reynolds wasn’t giving up position, but eventually let him go on older tyres, to finish the 50-lapper in 9^th. His result also crops him to tenth in the Supercars Championship.

The team will be back on track tomorrow for qualifying at 10:55am local time, ahead of Race 8.

David Reynolds – #9 Erebus Penrite Racing
“I was happy with qualifying but also a little disappointed; we made improvements in the car and it was the best it had been all weekend. Unfortunately, I lost a tenth through the mid-section of my fastest lap so I should have probably been 6^th of 7^th but ended up a little further back.

“I got an average start in the race with too much wheel spin but managed to keep position. Everyone was going crazy during the first few laps so I just tried to settle into a rhythm; I got stuck behind Todd for that entire stint and pitted early to try jump everyone. I think I went out too hard too early in the second stint and suffered with too much tyre degradation at the end of the race. It was tough, I have never worked so hard in my life to get three spots but there are definitely signs of improvement.

Dale Wood – #99 Erebus GB Galvanizing Racing
“There were some good bits of qualifying, I felt like we made some improvements on a green tyre from where we had been, but it was a poor effort on my behalf into the last turn and with the field so incredibly close, it cost us a few spots.

“I got a good start in the race and was going well and went long on the first set of tyres as they were holding on okay. We pitted and then had pretty good pace in the second stint, but unfortunately got caught up in a bit of a mess, I was hit by Brighty and put wide. There were only a few laps left so there wasn’t much I could do and we finished 21^st.