PRESS ROOM

SBR Face Battle at Tasmania Challenge

Round 13, Falken Tasmania Challenge, Symmons Plains Raceway

Qualifying/Race 1 Report

17 November 2007

Stone Brothers Racing is facing an uphill battle at the Falken Tasmania Challenge after a difficult day in qualifying and racing.

Caltex Racing’s Russell Ingall made some headway in race one this afternoon, picking up seven positions in today’s 50-lap race to finish in 16th position.

Ingall battled handling and brake issues throughout the race and was also lucky escape unscathed on the opening lap when he was sandwiched between John Bowe and Dean Canto.

JELD-WEN Motorsport’s James Courtney also looked to be working his way towards the top ten in race one, making his way to 14th position before a passing move on Shane Price at the hairpin saw him receive a drive-through penalty for a driving infringement.

The penalty relegated the JELD-WEN Motorsport driver to the rear of the field, Courtney crossing the line in 28th position.

The SBR duo’s problems started in this morning’s qualifying session. The Caltex Racing and JELD-WEN Motorsport Falcons failed to make the cut after the first 15-minute leg, caught out by changing track conditions and set up. Ingall qualified in 23rd position, Courtney in 26th.

Ingall and Courtney will start race two tomorrow from 16th and 28th respectively, the V8 Supercars back on track at 11:45am.

The third and final race of the Tasmanian round will start at 3:30pm.

Russell Ingall, car #9, Caltex Racing

“We didn’t make any gains in qualifying this morning.

“The Caltex Racing Falcon had some handling issues and on top of that we had brake issues; the brakes wore out in about three laps. We really had the full package today.

“We did move forward today. Even with the problems we had we caught the bunch in front and there were about ten cars in that lot so if we can fix it, we will be up and away. That’s a positive.

“We just have to fix it.”

James Courtney, car #4, JELD-WEN Motorsport

“The JELD-WEN Motorsport Falcon was actually really good in today’s race; we had very good race pace and we were working our way into the top ten.

“We had some issues with set up in qualifying so it was a big improvement from that.

“Coming into the hairpin I had a touch with Shane (Price). With a bit more car control he could have got around the corner but that didn’t happen. I got a drive through penalty and that was our race over.”

Ross Stone, Team Manager, Stone Brothers Racing

“Our problems really started from qualifying this morning.

“We got caught out by cooler track temperatures and the switch from old to new tyres.

“It was probably SBR’s worst ever qualifying performance.

“We did recover to some degree in the race. The JELD-WEN Motorsport Falcon was very good; the Caltex Racing Falcon struggled with brakes but Russell put in a great race considering.

“Unfortunately for James, a drive-through penalty in this field really destroys your weekend so we will just have to try and salvage some points tomorrow.”

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