V8 Supercars team blasts ‘lowlife’ criminal for act that ruined their race: ‘As if the weekend couldn’t get any worse’

The PremiAir Supercars team has offered a reward for information on identifying a ‘lowlife’ thief who stole a valuable piece of equipment from one of their cars during last weekend’s Gold Coast 500 race.

As their drivers James Golding and Tim Slade battled it out on the track, someone stole a steering wheel from a spare race car they were putting on display for fans to get a closer look.

The team expressed their anger online after realizing at the end of the meeting that the item was missing when they packed up the Camaro.

“As if the weekend couldn’t get any worse,” PremiAir wrote on Facebook.

‘After we wrapped our spare car in a Boost livery and put it on display for fans to get up close, some lowlife decided to steal the steering wheel.

‘If anyone has any information it would be greatly appreciated.

“We always strive to bring fans closer to the action, and it’s disheartening when things like this happen.

“It’s unfortunate that a few idiotic actions can create barriers between the participants and the fans we want to connect with.

The on-track action did not brighten the team’s weekends, with their drivers James Golding (pictured) and Tim Slade struggling to get to the front of the field.

‘We are just as shocked. It’s a disappointing end to what should have been a positive fan experience.”

PremiAir boss Peter Adderton offered a $1,000 reward for information identifying the person behind the ‘low act’, with the steering wheel worth around $7,000.

The results on track did not help the team’s mood. Slade finished 17th and 18th and Golding was 16th and 13th in the weekend’s two races.

In other action on the Gold Coast, Brodie Kostecki backed up his Bathurst 1000 victory by taking over the streets of Surfers Paradise, while Red Bull drivers Will Brown and Broc Feeney provided a pulsating showdown.

Erebus driver Kostecki was largely unchallenged as he produced 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 second race win of the season for the reigning Supercars champion, after dominating Mount Panorama with co-driver Todd Hazelwood earlier this month.

“Bathurst was a fairy tale for us, and when we arrived this weekend we knew we would be there or close to it,” Kostecki said.

Brodie Kostecki (front, wearing yellow cap) celebrates after taking a race win on the Gold Coast last weekend

‘We showed up, needed a few fine adjustments, but finally got the car back in the window today. It was a rocket.”

Series leader Brown beat a ruthless Feeney in a thrilling duel between the two Red Bulls to finish second and stay at the top of the leaderboard.

Feeney remains Brown’s only opponent in the championship race, but admits his chances of a first title are slim.

“I wish he (Brown) would stop and let me through,” Feeney said.

‘Every move here involves risks… I never had enough opportunity (to overtake).

“It’s a gamble to go to Adelaide, but we’re still on the hunt.

‘The pressure is now a bit more off.’