The Crittenden Automotive Library

VAN GISBERGEN THE KWIKEST KIWI ON DAY 1 IN HAMILTON

Topics: ITM 400 Hamilton, Shane van Gisbergen

VAN GISBERGEN THE KWIKEST KIWI ON DAY 1 IN HAMILTON

Stone Brothers Racing
April 16, 2010

On day one of the ITM 400 Hamilton event van Gisbergen did not disappoint in front of his home crowd finishing Practice 3rd quickest. After announcing this morning that he has re-signed with SBR until 2012, van Gisbergen’s performance reiterates why he has chosen to stay with the Ford team. IRWIN Racing’s Alex Davison was back in top form and not far behind his Kiwi teammate finishing the day 5th fastest.

In the final session of the day Wilson Security Racing’s Tim Slade was 10th in the first sector and second quickest in the last sector but was struggling to find optimum speed through the chicane at Turn 4. The weakest part of Slade’s lap was enough to put him back to 20th overall for the day.

Shane van Gisbergen – Driver, SP Tools Racing Car #9

“We worked away at it today, the car wasn’t that strong out of the truck, I wasn’t up to where Alex and Tim were as they had the extra two practice sessions this morning but we knew what direction we needed to go based on their feedback.

“We put on new tyres at the end there like most of the other guys and the car was quick, I didn’t really get the best out them but it sets us up for the weekend and gives me confidence heading into qualifying.”

“I’m almost getting used to being third at the moment but don’t want to settle for that, this weekend we are looking to take the next step and I’ll be doing my best in front of the Kiwi crowd!”

Alex Davison – Driver, IRWIN Racing Car #4

“It was a bit worrying early on in the first two practice sessions because we weren’t close to the guys at the top but we were confident it was due to the average tyres we were using. You never really know where you’re at until you put better tyres on so it’s so easy to get lost with the car but we backed ourselves that it was the tyres and didn’t change too much on the car.

“When we changed over to new tyres at the end of the last session we were straight into the top ten and the car was responding as it should, we just chipped away at the end and made some good changes.

“Its great for the team to have two cars in the top five, it’s been pretty tough for the car #4 guys since Bahrain so today is a good boost for team morale.”

Tim Slade – Driver, Wilson Security Racing Car #47

“I just need to get it together at turn four, the car is great everywhere else. We were not far off having the quickest final sector time but in order for us to be up where we want to be we just can’t afford to lose a few tenths through that part of the circuit.

“The way the car felt today gives me a lot of confidence going into tomorrow.”

The V8 Supercars will take to the track tomorrow at 3:05pm for Race 1 of the Hamilton ITM 400 before qualifying at 10:30am.

ITM 400 HAMILTON, PRACTICE (combined) – RESULTS

1 2 Toll Holden Racing Team/Garth Tander 1:23.2091R
2 1 TeamVodafone/Jamie Whincup 1:23.3350
3 9 SP Tools Racing/Shane van Gisbergen 1:23.3632
4 888 TeamVodafone/Craig Lowndes 1:23.4453
5 4 IRWIN Racing/Alex Davison 1:23.4505
6 24 Bundaberg Red Racing Team/Fabian Coulthard 1:23.4632
7 17 Jim Beam Racing/Steven Johnson 1:23.4931
8 6 Dunlop Super Dealer FPR Falcon/Steven Richards 1:23.6112
9 22 Toll Holden Racing Team/Will Davison 1:23.6282
10 3 Centaur Racing/Tony D'Alberto 1:23.6465
20 47 Wilson Security Racing/Tim Slade 1:24.0062