By Matthew Agius

Tasman Motorsport has collected a top ten finish at Oran Park this weekend, as the Holden V8 Supercar team delivered sixth place to weekend-sponsors F꧙irepower.

Driving at his team's f🌃ormer base-town of Sydney, Jason Richards driving the #3 Firepower Commodoreꦬ qualified fifth in the top ten shootout and drove a strong opening race for Tasman, as he eventually cruised through the shorter race for the weekend, finishing sixth after a sluggish pitstop delayed his charge through the field.

"I had sweat pouring into my eyes and it was fairly stinging in the fi𝄹nal few laps," said Richa✃rds.

"I made a mistake trying to carry a bit mu𓃲ch speed into turn three on the last lap and Whincup got by.

"Apart from that, the pit stop wasn't that great so we were fortunate to get back up♌ to where we finished. The pace was a☂lmost as good as the lead cars, probably on par with the FPR car of Bright. But it's a great start to the weekend."

Richards' teammate Andrew Jones couldn't match his pace on Saturday, qualifying low down the order and eventually finishing seventeenth. Jon🦹es will have an opportunity to claim a good ꧋result in the reverse grid race however, as he starts from fifteenth on the grid tomorrow.

"The rear tyres were completely gone by the end of th🐭e race," said Jones.

"I🙈t was very hard to get any drive out of the corners and improve my position any further.

"I made up a few spots at one stage during the race when there was a bit of a melee in front of me and we passed a few on the track. Once agai♏n, th൲e car was consistent across the full race distance but just lacking the pace to begin with.

"Making up eight spots is a positive way to start the weekend but we want𒆙 more tomorrow."