Series leader Kris Walton has boosted his confidence heading into qualifying setting a new lap record (2:32.6022) in the combined Practice sessions for Round 6 of the 2014 Australian V8 Ute Racing Series – fuelled by Hogs Breath Café at the Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000, Thursday, 9 October.
Walton’s RENTCO Ford only broke the record in the final minutes of the second session, setting himself up for a decent shot at the ARMOR ALL pole award.
“I’m confident coming into tomorrow; the ute has come out of the truck fast but we are here to put points on the board, if Ryal (Harris) is having a crack for the round win and we are there with him ,we’re not going to risk the series lead, we’re just there to get the points. If we stood on the top step of the podium then that would be a great bonus,” said Walton.
Ryal Harris was the first to break the lap record today, which he did in the first session, he posted a 2:32.8810 in the last lap of the second session, but that wasn’t enough to reclaim his record from this morning.
“When you come here with a good car it makes such a difference, we had a really bad run last year. I know we’ve got a good car and I have a lot of confidence after Sandown, I had a good crack at practice and surprised myself actually, but we’ll keep doing that all weekend and see what happens,” said Harris.
Nathan Pretty was the fastest Holden, only 9/10ths of a second from Walton. Rhys McNally bought his Stratco Holden home in 4th ahead of reigning Bathurst champion David Sieders in 5th, Ryan Hansford in 6th, Macmahon Mining’s Gerard McLeod in 7th, Jesse Dixon in 8th, Jeremy Gray 9th and Jesus Racing’s Andrew Fisher rounded out the top ten.
Veteran Kim Jane had a senior’s moment and hit the wall at the exit of the dipper in session one, damaging the Bob Jane T Marts Holden. Juggling two categories this weekend with Touring Car Masters as well as the Utes Series isn’t as easy as he would have liked.
“Not the best way to start Bathurst, but we’d just driven the TCM car in the first practice session learning the grip level of that car. I then jumped in the Ute and unfortunately the ute doesn’t have as much grip with the tyres, I tried to find the limit but unfortunately I went over it this time,” explained the veteran driver.
New Zealander Brett Rudd had a wake-up call when he sent his Pallet Supplies Racing Holden into the dipper a little too hard. Local driver Phillip Woodbury was lucky to avoid the incident, spinning without damage.
“I was coming through the dipper and got on the gas a little too hard, backed into the wall then it spun around put the front end in again and I binned the car. The boys are going to have to work all night to get me ready for tomorrow morning, I just hope they can do it,” explained a regretful Rudd.
Bathurst driver Terry Nightingale put in a good result to bring his Trackschool Holden home in 23rd fastest on his first V8 Ute outing.
The V8 Utes will be back on track tomorrow for Qualifying at 8:30am followed by two races on Saturday and one Sunday. Race 2 and Race 3 will be televised LIVE on Network Seven (check local guides).
See below full V8 Ute Racing Schedule:Friday, 10th October Qualifying 8:30am Saturday, 11th October Race 1 7:45amSaturday, 11th October Race 2 4:30pmSunday, 12th October Race 3 8:20am
See below top ten results from combined practice
1 68 Rentco Transport Equipment Rentals Kris Walton Ford FG 2:32.6022R
2 1 All Purpose Pest Racing Ryal Harris Ford FG 2:32.7836r
3 56 GoPro Racing Nathan Pretty Holden VE 2:33.5503
4 26 STRATCO Racing Rhys McNally Holden VE 2:33.5892
5 8 Sieders Racing Team David Sieders Ford FG 2:33.6759
6 6 Multispares Ryan Hansford Ford FG 2:33.7435
7 50 Macmahon Mining Gerard McLeod Holden VE 2:33.8695
8 49 Hayman Reese Racing Jesse Dixon Holden VE 2:33.9672
9 67 JMG Racing/IXL Jeremy Gray Ford FG P2 2:34.0186
10 9 Jesus Racing Team Andrew Fisher Ford FG 2:34.4355
