Bad year grinds Emery down

By Marc McGowan
The Narre Warren racecar driver finished 20th and 18th respectively in the two races in the weekend’s final round of the V8 Supercar Fujitsu Series.
The performance left Emery, 36, in 17th place for the season and just over 1000 points behind championship winner Steve Owen.
Emery contracted a stomach bug during the week and struggled in last Friday’s qualifying as a result.
He was also involved in a crash with TAG Motorsport teammate Tony Bates in race one when a rival driver caused him to spin after striking him from behind.
Emery, a five-time Commodore Cup champion, had high hopes in his second stint in the V8 Supercar Fujitsu Series, but wretched luck plagued him all season.
He was involved in a string of accidents – most due to other competitors’ errors – and undertook major repair on his VZ Commodore twice.
The second significant incident ended his Bathurst debut prematurely.
Emery labelled the season his ‘worst year ever of racing’ and easily the most expensive in his 10-year career.
He told the News in February that his aim was to finish in the top half dozen, but conceded this week that that was always going to be a difficult goal to attain.
Emery confirmed that he would return to the category next season, but said another year like this one would spell the end for him at that level.
“I have to be realistic. Top five would be awesome and I really need to go at least top 10,” he said.
“We’re only a fairly small operation and our budget is quite limited compared to others.
“You obviously like to progress and you really need to be in the top 10 every weekend and, with a year of learning, we should be able to do that next year.”
Emery said an improvement in the team’s qualifying performances was the key to achieving success in the category.
“You’ve got to qualify in the top eight or 10 to get anywhere and if you don’t qualify there, you might as well pack up and go home,” he said.
Emery also announced he was continuing his partnership with Walkinshaw Performance.