MUSTANGS CHASING SPEED AT SYMMONS PLAINS

PRESS RELEASE/Shell V-Power Racing – Photo: Velocity Magazine (Darin Mandy)

Tony D’Alberto – No. 12 Shell V-Power Racing Ford
 
Co-Driver Practice – 4^th (Fastest Lap: 51.2973s)
 
Fabian Coulthard – No. 12 Shell V-Power Racing Ford

Practice 1 – 9th (Fastest Lap: 51.1580s)
Practice 2 – 8th (Fastest Lap: 50.7147s)

Scott McLaughlin – No. 17 Shell V-Power Racing Ford

Practice 1 – 4th (Fastest Lap: 50.9504s)
Practice 2 – 7th (Fastest Lap: 50.6943s)
 
RECAP: Three 30-minute practice sessions were held at Symmons Plains Raceway today in cold, overcast conditions. The Tasmanian circuit is the shortest we visit across our season, at only 2.4km long, and one that rewards cars with strong top speed along the two straights. 
 
Tony D’Alberto was first out in the co-driver only session this morning, spending the first part of the session bedding braking components to prepare for the car for the remainder of the day. Tony was then able to run some fast laps, ending the session fourth fastest.
 
Practice 1 saw the main drivers roll out for the first time, with both Scott McLaughlin and Fabian Coulthard looking for balance adjustments across the session. The team continued to tune the cars, with fourth for McLaughlin and ninth for Coulthard the result at the end of the session.
 
The final session of the day would be important, as a Top 10 result would guarantee direct entry to the Q2 session tomorrow. While tuning continued, both cars logged Top 10 finishes to give them the right to skip Q1 tomorrow afternoon.
 
While there is time to be found, another practice session tomorrow morning will allow settings to be tested prior to qualifying.

D’ALBERTO QUOTE: “I enjoyed the session. I had a few jobs to do in the session, bedding brakes and things like that, but once that was done I was happy with my lap times, especially as I haven’t been here for six years. The car felt pretty good, it felt strong, so hopefully the guys have a good weekend.”

COULTHARD QUOTE: “The first goal for today was to be inside the Top 10 in P2, so that we miss the opening qualifying session tomorrow. We achieved that, and it could have been a bit dicey there with some rain coming, but we got it done. Now we’ve got to make it a bit faster for qualifying tomorrow.”

MCLAUGHLIN QUOTE: “This is a track that probably hasn’t been our strongest in the past, and my lap probably wasn’t my best, but the Holdens are definitely stronger. We’re just going to have to work harder to get it right. I’m just trying to wheel it as hard as I can, and will keep doing that all weekend.”

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