PRESS ROOM

Courtney, Besnard to Start Sandown 500 from Front Row

Round 9, Just Car Insurance Sandown 500, Sandown Raceway, VIC

Practice/Qualifying Report

Saturday 15 September 2007

JELD-WEN Motorsport’s James Courtney and David Besnard will start tomorrow’s Just Car Insurance Sandown 500 from the front row after posting the second fastest time in this afternoon’s top ten shootout.

Caltex Racing’s Russell Ingall and Luke Youlden also put in a strong qualifying performance to claim tenth on the grid for tomorrow’s race.

Courtney and Ingall were both steady in the first 30-minute qualifying leg, posting the 11th and 15th fastest times respectively to progress to the next stage.

It was in leg two that the JELD-WEN Motorsport driver laid down the challenge, setting a new practice record with a time of 1:10.4430 to be at the top of the time sheets at the end of the session.

Ingall posted the seventh fastest time, the SBR pair claiming their places in the top ten shootout.

Ingall started his shoot out lap in blistering form, the Caltex Racing Falcon fastest in the first two sectors. It came unstuck for Ingall in the third sector when the SBR Falcon left the circuit, the Caltex Racing driver forced to settle for tenth position.

Courtney was the final driver to take to the track, the JELD-WEN Motorsport driver putting in a great lap to claim second position on the grid, only just short of the pole position time set by Mark Winterbottom.

SBR had two strong practice sessions earlier in the day. JELD-WEN Motorsport’s David Besnard and Caltex Racing’s Luke Youlden were quick early and did a good job of getting the SBR Falcons set up in the co-driver practice.

Courtney and Ingall continued the job in the second practice session, the JELD-WEN Motorsport driver setting the second fastest time and Ingall coming in ninth fastest.

The Caltex Racing and JELD-WEN Motorsport Falcons will be on track at 9:55am tomorrow for the V8 Supercar warm up before the Just Car Insurance Sandown 500 starts at 1:30pm tomorrow afternoon.

Russell Ingall, car #9, Caltex Racing

“We had a really strong qualifying session today. The Caltex Falcon was strong in the first two sectors, particularly in the second sector where we have been weak.

“Our strongest sector was our last sector so it was a bit frustrating to come undone there in the shoot out lap.

“The time we were doing probably would have given (Mark) Winterbottom a run for his money. It is a little disappointing but in an endurance race, tenth can be as good as pole, you can follow the pack a bit.

“If it was a sprint race tomorrow I’d be a bit worried. Knowing it is an endurance race, I was prepared to have a bit more of a go.”

Luke Youlden, car #9, Caltex Racing

“I had dry running in the co-driver session today which was what I needed after doing my laps in the wet yesterday.

“The Caltex Falcon feels strong in both conditions and we made a few changes to the car which put us in the right direction.

“I’m comfortable in the car and Russell’s got it up the pointy end so I’m just looking forward to tomorrow and hopefully bringing it home up the front.”

James Courtney, car #4, JELD-WEN Motorsport

“It was a great job from the JELD-WEN guys to turn the car around after the brake issues we had yesterday.

“They got on top of it and the car was quick today, straight out of the gate.

“The car worked fabulously all day and in the last bit we just didn’t have quite enough to grab pole.

“There were parts of my shoot out lap that I wasn’t happy with; there were parts of the track that I didn’t push as hard as I could have because I didn’t think the tyres were quite there.

“Everyone has their excuses but Mark (Winterbottom) did a great job and I’m not going to try and take anything away from him.

“I think David and I are a really strong pairing. He is so close to my times with very few laps and he has raced with these guys before so he’s not intimidated by the racing. I don’t think you could intimidate him with a sledgehammer.

“He’s probably one of the most naturally gifted drivers out there so I’m really looking forward to racing with him tomorrow.”

David Besnard, car #4, JELD-WEN Motorsport

“It’s great to be back in a decent car. The last few times I’ve been in these cars it’s been pretty hard work.

“You forget how easy it is to be in a good car and do decent times. I’m not saying that it’s easy to get those last few tenths but you work your backside off in a bad car to just get up there.

“James did a great job to get the JELD-WEN car on the front row and it’s great to be racing with him. We’ve known each other since we were little kids.

“We’ve come along way from where we were yesterday. To be sitting second and only a tiny bit off pole shows what the team is capable of. We are a strong combination and I can’t wait to get out there and go racing.”

[top]

JELD-WEN Windows & Doors Australia

THE JELD-WEN AUSTRALIA FAMILY

Courtney, Besnard to Start Sandown 500 from Front Row

More Information