WILL Brown wasn’t the only driver lined up on the front row of the Sunday Supercars grid at Albert Park with a point to prove.
While plenty has been made of how Brown’s pole position represented a desperately needed qualifying breakthrough, it also was significant for Randle in more ways than one for Randle to be starting second.
Not only did it give him a sniff of that elusive maiden main game race win – something which ultimately evaded the Castrol man once more – but it laid the foundations for his first podium and indeed first top five finish since Symmons Plains last May.
The result comes at a pivotal moment to gather some momentum in what is bound to be a wild fight for finals berths across the coming seven months, with Randle now up to 11th.
Adding meaning to the silverware was both the circumstances preceding the feat, and the stage it was achieved on.
Randle’s crew had to work overtime to get the #55 repaired after being punted by Ryan Wood at Turn 5 on Saturday night.
“It’s just a really great way to repay the whole team because it was a late night for the guys and girls after getting taken out at Turn 5 (on Saturday),” he said.
“It was just nice to bounce back.
“When you have a crash, it’s nice to get some laps under your belt ideally when it’s repaired, but starting from the front row and the last time you were in it you were in the wall, you have just got to get on with it.”
Pic: Supplied/Mark Horsburgh
To stand on the Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix rostrum – something which Supercars top-three finishers only get to do following the Sunday race – was also rather meaningful for the former open-wheel ace.
“I remember being here 2006 with my dad, that was the first time I watched an F1 race live,” he said, 20 years on.
“We were on the Fangio stand, I’m not sure if it’s still called that, right on the main straight. Back then you had earplugs in and then earmuffs because it was so loud.
“To think now I’m literally on the Sunday podium, it was really special.”
Tickford Racing continues to lead the teams’ championship heading into Taupō, which will host the first half of Supercars’ inaugural New Zealand doubleheader on April 10-12.
“The game this year is going to be about getting consistent points, not just focusing on a single race weekend,” said team co-owner Rod Nash.
“Between the two drivers (Randle and Cam Waters), they have been consistent and each scored a P3 result. It’s strong racing out there and the name of the game is staying out of trouble.
“We’ve come away with straight cars so that makes it easier with only a week before we head to New Zealand.
“And we got a lot of data out of the weekend that will help the guys back at the ranch.”