PRESS ROOM

Courtney Second Fastest at Opening Sandown Practice

Midas 400, Sandown International Motor Raceway, VIC

07 June 2008

JELD-WEN Motorsport’s James Courtney set the second fastest lap time in today’s opening practice session at the Midas 400 at Sandown International Motor Raceway, pipped by only one-one hundredth of a second by Garth Tander in the closing minutes of the two-and-a-quarter hour session.

Courtney was in and around the fastest times for most of the day, piloting the JELD-WEN Motorsport Falcon in the second and third parts of practice following endurance driver David Besnard’s 30-minute stint in the number four car first up.

The JELD-WEN Motorsport crew had a good set up right from the start, with only small changes required to improve the BF Falcon.

Courtney is confident that he can carry today’s pace into qualifying tomorrow, hoping to snag his second pole position of his V8 Supercar career.

Shane van Gisbergen’s session was not as smooth as his teammate’s, the SP Tools Racing driver struggling with balance in the number-nine BF Falcon.

While the crew worked throughout the session to improve the car, van Gisbergen was only able to manage the 17th fastest time of the day.

Van Gisbergen and the SP Tools Racing team will work on the car overnight, aiming to emerge with a top-ten qualifier tomorrow.

Courtney and van Gisbergen will be on track at 9:55am tomorrow for the three-leg elimination style qualifying session, followed by race one at 12:50pm.

Stone Brothers Racing’s Jonathon Webb was fourth fastest in today’s Fujitsu V8 Supercar Series practices, the Tekno Autosport entry consistently at the pointy end of the field over the two sessions.

James Courtney, #4, JELD-WEN Motorsport

“This track suits the JELD-WEN Falcon; the corners are short, sharp and aggressive.

“We really didn’t have to change a lot out of the truck, the JELD-WEN boys hit the nail on the head first up.

“We’ve got some new developments on the car following our test last week; I just have to keep my head, not make any mistakes and we should come out of the weekend with a really good result.”

Shane van Gisbergen, #9, SP Tools Racing Falcon

“We struggled with the SP Tools Racing Falcon today.

“It wasn’t right out of the truck. We made a lot of changes but just couldn’t get it right.

“We have had a good look at all th e data this afternoon and we have a plan for tomorrow.

“We think that we can get the nine car back on track and be inside the top ten in qualifying.”

[top]

JELD-WEN Windows & Doors Australia

THE JELD-WEN AUSTRALIA FAMILY

Courtney Second Fastest at Opening Sandown Practice

More Information