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DJR finding groove after The Bend success

Ed JacksonAAP
Anton De Pasquale claimed his first Supercars win as a Dick Johnson Racing driver at Tailem Bend.
Camera IconAnton De Pasquale claimed his first Supercars win as a Dick Johnson Racing driver at Tailem Bend. Credit: AAP

It's the track they have dominated in recent years so it was fitting that the new-look Dick Johnson Racing secured its first one-two finish of 2021 at The Bend Motorsport Park.

Such a dominant force during Scott McLaughlin's three straight Supercars titles, the Ford powerhouse had to completely overhaul its operation at the end of 2020.

American billionaire Roger Penske ended his involvement in the team, taking McLaughlin with him to the United States to race IndyCar while Fabian Coulthard also departed.

It meant DJR entered 2020 with two new drivers in Anton De Pasquale and Will Davison and with a new ownership structure.

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On Sunday at the South Australian track McLaughlin made his own in the past two years, it was De Pasquale who stepped up.

The 25-year-old not only claimed the first two pole positions of his career for both of Sunday's races, he then turned that into a first win as a Shell V-Power Racing driver in the opening 24-lap race.

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With Davison coming home second, it was DJR's first one-two finish since last year's first trip to The Bend in September when McLaughlin won ahead of Coulthard in the final race of the event.

While De Pasquale's second race was wrecked by an early engine drama on Sunday, Davison came home third behind Cam Waters and Shane Van Gisbergen to cap a strong display by the team.

"Since the first event I think we've done pretty well with the adaption we've all had to make," Davison said.

"Cars are all different. New relationships, no testing (or) limited testing, absolutely nothing so to be honest we've just been carrying on our trend.

"We've been strong at points in every single weekend this year.

"We were confident coming here. Obviously, the team have got a good handle on this circuit but we're different drivers so you never just bolt in what you did last year.

"Things are always changing. It's just been a process of understanding each other bit-by-bit and us getting used to the car."

The next stop on the Supercars calendar is at Winton on May 29 and 30, another circuit dominated by McLaughlin and Coulthard in recent years.

"We've got through these first four (events) now with a good haul of points which was my goal," Davison said.

"Hopefully we can sort of keep this trend going and just keep getting stronger."

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