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After a glittering launch of Glory Team Racing’s stunning
new United Industries supported MINI CHALLENGE racecar, Perth’s David Turner
scorched around the Barbagallo Raceway to set the fastest lap of the first two
practice sessions in MINI CHALLENGE today.
The experienced campaigner set the fastest lap in the cool
temperatures of this morning’s first practice, ending the session one-tenth in
front of UBER-STAR CAR competitor, Leanne Tander, having her first MINI
CHALLENGE experience this weekend.
Neil McFadyen (Scope Signs & Graphics) backed up his
third quickest time from session one by setting quickest time in the second
practice session.
Tander’s fellow UBER-STAR CAR pilot, former Wallabies
winger, Ben Tune impressed in practice two. Having never driven on slick tyres
previously, Tune finished just 2.4 seconds below the quickest time set by
McFadyen.
Local driver, Nathan Callaghan (Calmack Smash Repairs) used
his experience at Barbagallo to his advantage, electrifying the big Friday crowd
by setting the third quickest time in the second practice
session.
The other local hopes, Paul and Todd Fiore had a tentative
start to their respective weekends, Todd getting the bragging rights around the
Fiore dinner table tonight, finishing both sessions in fifth. Paul finished P1
sixth and the second session ninth.
A last minute addition to the field – Perth’s Jim Sweeney –
finished 12th in session two and is still finding his feet with the
MINI John Cooper Works CHALLENGE racecar.
With many of the experienced drivers in MINI CHALLENGE
having never visited Barbagallo in the past, most
are still finding their feet around the abrasive race circuit, one of
those being last round winner, Nathan Geier. Having switched to the Sherrin
Rentals team and carrying an additional 25kg in success ballast due to his win
at Wakefield
Park, Geier finished the
sessions seventh and 11th respectively.
Geier’s sparring partner from Wakefield Park, Paul Stokell (DecoRug Motorsport)
was instantly on the pace, setting second quickest time in the first session.
Stokell’s team-mate and Series leader, Grant Denyer had intermittent problems
with his DecoRug Motorsport car, however the team is working overtime to have
the car in tune for Qualifying tomorrow.
Former V8 Ute combatants, Gary Young and Damien White have
performed solidly considering both are new to the circuit and in White’s case,
the car.
Young is anticipated to have a strong following from fans
of the Fremantle Dockers Football Club in WA, with whom he conducts strength and
conditioning programs and match strategy whilst they are on the East
Coast.
Session two was red-flagged with just a couple of minutes
left remaining when Todd Wanless (Motorline MINI Garage) speared off the end of
the circuit and heavily damaged the car. The Motorline team are currently
assessing the damage and attempting to get Todd back on track before tomorrow’s
qualifying and race one.
Tomorrow, competitors will be on track for qualifying at
9:05am before race one is conducted at 3:45pm.
Sunday’s second race will be broadcast live around
Australia as part of the V8 Supercars
telecast on the Seven Network. MINI CHALLENGE is expected to air from
approximately 3:10pm. A post-produced highlights package will air on Saturday
May 31.
DAVID TURNER
(Fastest – Session One): “It’s not too bad for an old bloke! I feel as
though I still have a bit left in me, I didn’t want to show the East Coasters
the way around and have kept some in reserve for tomorrow’s qualifying. It’s a
fantastic weekend for Glory Team Racing with the launch of our team to the Perth
public last night and to be here on our home circuit with such a big support
network is huge for all of us, I’m certainly aiming to keep the momentum
flowing.”
NEIL McFADYEN (Fastest – Session Two):
“You don’t win the weekend
in practice. It’s nice to be back on top of the timesheets after the last round
where we were a little off the pace. The M3 Motorsport team have worked
tirelessly on the car and the new livery we have from Scope Signs & Graphics
looks brilliant. I’m in an unusual position as compared to most of the regulars
in that I have raced here in the past. I raced at Barbagallo in Formula Ford, so
know the track. I think it will be a good weekend for
us.”
BEN TUNE (Former Wallabies Winger):
“The car was great to
drive. I was a little nervous before I went out there, but once I was on track
and the tyres warmed up, it was a lot of fun. The slick tyres were a different
experience, but having never sat in the car previously, I think tomorrow for
qualifying, I should be a lot more relaxed. The car was much faster than I
thought it would be and handled brilliantly, so all in all it was a good day’s
work.”
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