SHELL V-POWER FRIDAY WRAP WINTON

PRESS RELEASE/Shell V-Power – Photo: Darin Mandy (Digital Realism)

WINTON SUPERSPRINT – FRIDAY, MAY 18 – PRACTICE
 

Fabian Coulthard – No. 12 Shell V-Power Racing Ford

Practice 1 – FIRST (Fastest Lap: 1m32.0341s)
Practice 2 – 4th (Fastest Lap: 1m19.7651s)
 
Scott McLaughlin – No. 17 Shell V-Power Racing Ford

Practice 1 – 5th (Fastest Lap: 1m32.5049s)
Practice 2 – 15th (Fastest Lap: 1m20.1294s)

Tony D’Alberto – No. 12 Shell V-Power Racing Ford
 
Co-Driver Practice – 12th (Fastest Lap: 1m39.4149s)

RECAP:  Shell V-Power Racing’s first outing at Winton Motor Raceway was for the opening Co-Driver only practice session, which gives drivers that will take part in the Pirtek Enduro Cup some extra track time. Conditions were very cold and wet, so track conditions were not ideal for fast laps with grip levels low. No.12 Co-Driver Tony D’Alberto used the 30-minute session to get a feel for the Shell V-Power Ford, his first time driving a Supercar since the Gold Coast 600 in October 2017. Practice 1 for main drivers was also run in full wet conditions, with low temperatures offering minimal grip levels. Both drivers were happy with their car balance, with Fabian Coulthard running the fastest time of the session in his 20th and final lap of the session. Scott McLaughlin was also fast, however a low fuel load prevented him from completing his fast lap late in the session. In Practice 2, Coulthard and his No. 12 crew looked at qualifying balance, running green tyres late in the session to join a group of cars up front in the 1m19s bracket to finish the day fourth. McLaughlin and the No. 17 crew focused on race pace and used tyre balance, ending the session 15th as those in front ran greens.

COULTHARD QUOTE: “We had a good run in the wet in first practice this morning, and it’s always good for the group to know that we can be fast in the wet. In that final session we spent the first part of the session bedding in some brakes, so lost a bit of time in that, but I’m definitely not unhappy. We’ve got some great data to look at overnight, and come back to have a crack at it tomorrow.”

MCLAUGHLIN QUOTE: “I’m feeling good. Our race runs at the end were positive, and we were pretty good in the wet too. The rest of the weekend is looking like it will be dry, so we’re feeling pretty strong. The race run showed that the car will be really good on its tyres, and at the end there we did a pretty decent time on some old tyres. Looking forward to tomorrow.”’
 
D’ALBERTO QUOTE: “After seven months out of the car, it was nice to be back in the No.12 Shell V-Power Ford, even if the conditions weren’t what we were hoping for. The track was offering virtually no grip, but the car felt nice and I really enjoyed being back at the track with the team again. I’ll get another run at a test day next month, so it was good to reacquaint myself with the car after spending some time in GT machinery.”