COOPER’S BIGGEST POINTS HAUL AT EXCEPTIONAL BEND ENDURO

Cooper Murray has enjoyed his best weekend performance of the year after finishing seventh at the opening round of the Enduro Cup in Tailem Bend.

Cooper’s weekend peaked at the right moment, with a strong qualifying performance sneaking him into the top 10 by 0.14 seconds to earnt him his first a shootout berth at an endurance race, which he duly converted to ninth with his solo flyer — which became eighth on the grid after penalties elsewhere.

It was his fourth consecutive weekend of the year to feature at least one top-10 start.

Cooper chose to start the race — he was the only full-time driver on the grid at lights-out — and made the most of his decision with a racy opening stint that saw him gain two places in the opening two laps and that had him rise to fourth before the first pit stop window.

He rotated through the lead before making a late stop on lap 27 to hand the car to co-driver Jobe Stewart, the Erebus Super2 protégé, who rejoined the race eighth in a tight top 10 that saw him trading positions regularly with a gaggle of other co-drivers in his first stint.

Jobe held his own against more experienced full-timers in his second stint, handing the car back to Cooper at the end of lap 74, with the Erebus Camaro returning to the track in net seventh, which he held to the finish.

The result earnt Cooper his best overall weekend result and by far his biggest points haul for a round, with 182 points added to his rookie-season tally.

“Tailem Bend was a really positive weekend. To get into the shootout on Saturday was really cool, and to back it up from Sunday and finish seventh was exceptional.

“Making the shootout was our aim for the whole weekend, and it’s awesome to have a crack. It lifts the team’s spirits — and team spirit is very high this weekend. We knew we had the pace; it was just about executing when it mattered, and I happened to do that at the right time. To get the track to myself for a lap was pretty cool as well.

“A big credit to Jobe, my teammate, who did a stellar job in those middle stints and really set me up for that last stint to just bring it home. He’s been amazing, exceeding all expectations.

“We’re in a good stride heading to Bathurst. It’s one of my favourite tracks. Erebus are quick there, so I’m keen to get there and dig in and have a shot.”