PRESS ROOM

SBR On Track at Sizzling V8 Supercar Challenge

V8 Supercars Manufacturers Challenge, Australian Grand Prix Circuit, VIC

13-16 March 2008

Stone Brothers Racing had its first hit out at the V8 Supercars Manufacturers Challenge at the Albert Park Grand Prix Circuit today, with both SBR Falcons qualifying inside the top 15 in sizzling conditions.

Thirty-eight degree temperatures greeted SP Tools Racing’s Shane van Gisbergen to his first appearance at the Australian Grand Prix, the young Kiwi finding the conditions tough.

After a hectic introduction to the 5.3km circuit in the 30 minute practice session, van Gisbergen put his head down in qualifying to improve on his practice time and claim 14th position.

JELD-WEN Motorsport’s James Courtney battled with a bent roll bar in today’s first practice, a remnant of his race three incident at Eastern Creek.

With repairs completed during the break, the JELD-WEN Motorsport driver was back on the pace in qualifying, jumping straight into the top five on his opening laps.

Courtney was on target to cement his place inside the top ten until a red flag stopped the session and he was forced to abandon his flying lap. The break caused the JELD-WEN Motorsport team to miss their window on their new tyres, sending Courtney down the order to 13th position.

The SP Tools Racing and JELD-WEN Motorsport Falcons will be back on track tomorrow for race one at 3:55pm, following the V8 Supercar Top Ten Shootout at 12:45pm.

James Courtney, car #4, JELD-WEN Motorsport

“The JELD-WEN Falcon was all wrong in that first practice today.

“Once we got back to the garage we found we had a bent roll bar courtesy of our race three incident at Eastern Creek.

“It was a wasted session for us.

“There was a huge improvement in the car in qualifying; we were straight up into the top five.

“We threw on a set of new tyres and had the fastest splits when the red flag came out; that pretty much ruined our chances of being up there.

“The nature of the Albert Park circuit and the heat means that the tyres are at their best on the first lap and we missed that window.”

Shane van Gisbergen, car #9, SP Tools Racing

“That first practice today was a pretty hectic learning session.

“You hope that you will make a big improvement in the next session and we were able to do that today.

“Out of every corner here you accelerate into another corner and you have to get the power down. We started to do that and got faster and faster through every sector. That will continue over the weekend.

“It’s really hot out there. The races this weekend are only short but the heat is going to make it very tough.”

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SBR On Track at Sizzling V8 Supercar Challenge

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