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Team VIP Petfoods' Baird Demonstrates Winton Savvy on Day One |
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Saturday, 19 May 2007 |
Team VIP Petfoods’ Craig Baird proved he has the speed when it comes to Winton during the Carrera Cup round two practice sessions today, be it behind the wheel of his championship defending Porsche or an Aussie V8 Supercar.
Current series leader Baird claimed the fastest and third fastest times over the two sessions, testament to the talent which saw him snatch the 2004 Winton V8 Supercars pole from the likes of Skaife, Tander and Lowndes aboard the Team Kiwi Racing entry.
Alongside Team VIP Petfoods’ team owner Tony Quinn and teammate Klark
Quinn, it was obvious Baird had lost none of his Winton know-how in the
three years since his last main-game venture there with strong and
consistent lap times over both sessions.
“The car felt really good today, and we put down some strong results,” said Baird.
“I have said I expected the Winton circuit to actually be better suited
to the Porsche and my driving style than to the V8 Supercar with its
twists and turns, and it seems I was on the money there.
“Now if all goes to plan this form will continue into tomorrow’s
qualifying and race one – of course I am looking to start the first
race at the front so as to be in the best position possible to defend
my championship and current series lead.”
Lining up with Baird on the Carrera Cup grid for qualifying tomorrow
will be Baird’s Team VIP Petfoods’ teammate Klark Quinn and team owner
Tony Quinn, who experienced a solid start to Winton’s proceedings with
the tenth and eleventh fastest times in the first session respectively.
This weekend’s Carrera Cup round comes ahead of the team’s second
Nürburgring 24 hour assault next month. The team received international
recognition after finishing ninth outright in last year’s event and
will be in serious contention for this year’s race with the use of
their new car – the Porsche 991 GT3 RSR (Type 997), which will be
officially unveiled at Queensland Raceway this Thursday from 12 noon to
1.30pm.
Today’s results:
Practice One
1. Craig Baird (Team VIP Petfoods) – 1.26.77
2. David Reynolds – 1.27.63
3. David Russell – 1.27.75
10. Tony Quinn (Team VIP Petfoods) – 1.33.56
11. Klark Quinn (Team VIP Petfoods) – 1.34.05
Practice Two
1. David Reynolds – 1.24.38
2. Marcus Marshall – 1.24.74
3. Craig Baird (Team VIP Petfoods) – 1.24.99
16. Klark Quinn (Team VIP Petfoods) – 1.26.98
19. Tony Quinn (Team VIP Petfoods) – 1.27.43
Team VIP Petfoods’ round schedule:
Saturday 19th May, 2007
11.00am – 11.20am: Carrera Cup – Qualifying
2.35pm – 2.55pm: Carrera Cup – Race One
Sunday 20th May, 2007
9.00am – 9.20am: Carrera Cup – Race Two
12.30pm – 12.45pm: Carrera Cup – Race Three
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