PRESS ROOM

SBR in top ten after Gold Coast opener

Gillette V8 Supercar Challenge, Surfers Paradise

Practice / Qualifying Report

Friday 20 October 2006

Stone Brothers Racing will have two cars in tomorrow’s top ten shoot out following the first hit out at the Gillette V8 Supercar Challenge on the Gold Coast today.

Caltex Racing’s Russell Ingall qualified a strong sixth position in this afternoon’s twenty-minute qualifying session.

Team mate James Courtney put in a fantastic effort in his first outing on the Surfers Paradise Street Circuit, putting the JELD-WEN Falcon in tenth position with only a minute remaining in the session.

Both Ingall and Courtney punched in times under the previous practice record; a new practice record of 1:49.1004 was set by Rick Kelly, surpassing Mark Skaife’s record of 1:50.3768.

Ingall and Courtney took part in the upper 50% qualifying session after placing eighth and 11th respectively in the morning’s practice sessions.

Russell Ingall, Caltex Racing

“To be more than a second quicker than last year; they are unbelievable times. It shows the improvement and development in the cars over the last 12 months.

“It looks like the other camp have a bit of an edge here. To be up with the front running Fords is some consolation but we really have to shave about half-a-second off to be anywhere near the top.

“The upside is that SBR has been concentrating on brake life. We are doing everything to prolong brakes, which is definitely an issue here. If you run out of brakes here or your pedal starts to go away a bit you’re in deep trouble. The race will show which teams have done their homework the best.

“If we can hang in there in the shoot out we will be a good show in the race."

James Courtney, JELD-WEN Motorsport

“We said that it would be great if we could get in the top ten and have a straight car and we have done both of those things.

“We lost a couple of mirrors along the way but we can live with that.

“It was my first look at the circuit today and there is no room for error! It’s gong to be a tough race tomorrow, it will be a matter of trying to stay out of trouble. I’m sure there will be a lot of people with brake dramas. The JELD-WEN car is really strong on brakes so I think we are looking pretty good.

“The car is running quite well; it’s just me learning the circuit and we are only going to get faster and faster.

“We hope to make up some positions in the shoot out and have a good day tomorrow.”

Ross Stone, Team Manager, Stone Brothers Racing

“It was certainly our aim to have both SBR Falcons in the top ten but I did think it was going to be a big ask for James. He has no experience on this circuit and it’s a tough one to get on top of.

“If you look at some of the people he beat to get into the top ten; I think it’s a fabulous result for his first effort.

“The SBR cars are looking really good. This place is all about brakes and traction and I know we will be right for the race.”

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SBR in top ten after Gold Coast opener

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