IT was a gut wrenching weekend for Ash Walsh at Mount Panorama as not only did he and team-mate Scott Pye fail to finish the Bathurst 1000, but his chances of winning the 2014 Development Series crown disappeared.

One of a number of drivers who competed in both a support category as well as the Bathurst 1000 over four days of racing at Mount Panorama, Walsh certainly had a packed schedule.

He had arrived in Bathurst full of hope as he sat second in the Development Series championship, four points behind Paul Dumbrell, while he and Pye had been impressive at Sandown in the first race of the Endurance Cup, placing fifth.

But on Saturday things turned sour. 

Ten laps into the 250 kilometre Development Series, and after making a good charge through the field, disaster struck for Walsh.

The rear of his Falcon stepped out over the notorious Reid Park bend. Walsh nearly regained control, but smacked the wall and ended his race.

With Dumbrell going on to win and claim 300 points for his effort, the incident ended Walsh’s championship hopes.

“We have had some issues with the handling all weekend and the car has been quite snappy,” he said.

“I turned in across Reid Park and just lost the rear. I thought we may have escaped, but at the bottom of the hill it clipped the wall and that was enough to put us out.

“I should have been more cautious to ensure the points heading to Sydney, but I was trying to stay with Cam [Waters] after getting by Andy Jones. It is my mistake and has cost me the championship.”

On Sunday Walsh had the chance to end his weekend on a positive with a good result alongside Pye in the #16 Dick Johnson Racing entry.

The young talent did well as he drove his way into fourth, but things soon turned sour.

Pye crashed into the tyre wall at turn two, but he was able to nurse the car back to Pit Lane. 

The red flag conditions allowed the crew to get the Falcon back in shape and ready to race again.

But six laps after the race resumed, Pye had a tyre delaminate on Conrod Straight, pitching the battered Falcon into the wall.

It ended Walsh’s and Pye’s race. 

“We have had no luck today with two incidents finally putting us out. I thought we might be back in it after the red flag, but a cut tyre ended our day with Scotty having a big moment at the bottom of Conrod,” Walsh said.

“I was trying to stay in the top five during my stint as well as saving some fuel, so the car was going very well and I was confident we could stay in the lead group. Not the result we were looking for, but we will fight on at the Gold Coast.