SHELL V-POWER: TOP 10 IN TOWNSVILLE DESPITE TRICKY CONDITIONS

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

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

Practice 1 – 9^th (Fastest Lap: 1m24.1616s – wet tyres)
Practice 2 – 8^th (Fastest Lap: 1m13.0246s)
 
Scott McLaughlin – No. 17 Shell V-Power Racing Ford

Practice 1 – 14^th (Fastest Lap: 1m24.4381s – slick tyres)
Practice 2 – 3^rd (Fastest Lap: 1m12.6974s)

RECAP:  The 2019 Townsville 400 began in difficult conditions, with drizzling rain forcing teams onto wet tyres for the opening practice session.
 
The rained slowed in the middle of the first session, and with the track drying several runners – including Scott McLaughlin – opted to switch to slick tyres. McLaughlin would run the remainder of the session on the slick rubber, despite the rain returning so he could learn more about grip levels in the damp conditions. Coulthard remained on wets for the duration, however little was gained from the session.
 
Practice 2 saw proper dry conditions, and all 24 cars out on slicks. Both Shell V-Power Racing Team Mustangs showed good pace across the session, with McLaughlin ending the day third and Coulthard eighth.
 
There will be another practice session tomorrow morning, ahead of qualifying and a 200km race in the afternoon.

SEE VELOCITY’S PHOTOS HERE

COULTHARD QUOTE: “The conditions were tricky there in practice one, however the car felt pretty good in the rain, so we know that if we get more wet-weather we’re going to be OK. This afternoon’s session was really about accessing the set-up, and getting an idea of where we were really at. I’m pretty happy with how everything went, we know there’s more in it and we get to have another go tomorrow.”

MCLAUGHLIN QUOTE: “We had to squeeze our whole program into P2 this afternoon, as we weren’t able to learn too much from P1. We did race runs at the start, before we switched to a fresher tyre and had a go at some quali runs. We didn’t use a new tyre though, so we know there’s still a bit of a gain left in it. Hopefully it stays dry and we can give it a crack tomorrow.”

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