Smiths Trucks Racing Wins Round One Ans Leads Championship
23/2/2004 11:03 (Press Release) -
The Smiths Trucks Racing Team stamped itself as a genuine championship contender taking victory in the opening Round of, and the championship lead in, the 2004 Konica Minolta V8 Supercar Series thanks to Alan Gurr who claimed 1st, 11th (in a reverse grid race) and 4th respectively in Sunday's races.
Making the step up to a two-car attack the gritty Victorian privateers battled in challenging conditions that encompassed searing 40-degree heat and rain that included the rarity of the final race being red-flagged mid-distance by officials so that the cars could return to the pits for a change from slick (dry weather tyres) to "wets".
Alan Gurr in the #70 Smith's Trucks Commodore (the team's "lead" car) was never lower than an impressive 3rd place in Saturday's preliminary Practice Sessions and Qualifying Session to line up on the starting grid in 3rd place for the beginning of Race One.
Gurr, himself with negligible prior V8 Supercar experience, did not overshadow his 21 year old team mate. Lee Holdsworth one of 11 debutantes this weekend was easily the standout with an impressive showing to be in the top half of the very competitive field for most of Saturday's sessions before Qualifying the #72 Smith's Trucks Commodore in 17th due to a problem-shortened session.
Holdsworth went on to knock on the door of the top ten in races one and two in which he missed the "benefit" of the reverse grid starting order due to starting from pit lane; in last place. He then charged up to 4th place in Race Three's heavy rain and impressively held the more experienced Luke Youlden at bay to snare 6th place overall for the Round.
QUOTES
Alan Gurr, #70 Smith's Trucks VX Commodore: "I'm over the moon, this is an unbelievable start to the season, especially being a Rookie in the Series. And winning the first race of the season was amazing.
"The weekend was a very interesting one and it had its ups and downs with the weather. My car was good from the outset and a credit to the team's preparation and set-up know-how; fine tuning is all that was required throughout Saturday to eliminate some mid-corner understeer. With new tyres for Qualifying a trip to the pits mid-session for some minor adjustments and more new tyres the car was very quick and held pole position 'til about the last lap.
"Andrew Jones on pole seemed to hesitate slightly at the start of Race One and I had to move onto the dirt which caused a loss of a couple of positions. I sussed out the guys ahead for the next few laps to assess where they, and I, were fast and then made my moves under brakes in the corner leading onto the main straight to take the lead on lap ten of seventeen and win with a margin of 4.32 seconds.
"Starting from the rear for Race Two I worked my way steadily forward with the other "leaders" until I was contacted on lap six and forced off the track which lost me a lot of ground and dropped me back. So, finishing 11th in these circumstances was not so bad.
"I had to nurse the clutch off the start line in Race Three and lost a position or two. I also had a bit of luck because I was contacted on the side and pushed onto the grass on the main straight, we later discovered that one of my wheel rims had been broken but magically held together. The red flag interlude didn't disrupt my race and taking 4th delivered the overall victory."
Lee Holdsworth #72 Smith's Trucks VX Commodore: "I had an unreal weekend, the best thing I've done in motorsport so far! I'd only racked up 20 laps in the car (at Winton) before this event. I was hampered in Practice Two with a fuel pump problem and this also cut short my Qualifying Session to about three effective laps: 17th was a disappointment.
"There were people going off everywhere in Race One and I was fortunate to avoid this carnage to get up to 11th. I started from last place in pit lane in Race Two and pretty much followed Alan (Gurr) as he picked his way through the field.
"I started 10th in Race Three, with bucketing rain I again followed Alan up the order. His progress continued and I ended up battling to retain my 4th place but kept Youlden three seconds in arrears at the finish.
"I had done very little wet weather driving before this weekend so it was quite an experience to be matching it with these guys in the these conditions. I got the hang of adjusting the roll bars from inside the car and made some effective improvements as the distances wore on too".
Ryan McLeod, Team Manager: "What a sensational weekend. The boys (drivers) did an absolutely fantastic job. Alan put the pressure on the other guys from the word-go and we knew that Lee was quicker than his limited Qualifying laps showed, so we were quite confident heading into Sunday.
"The last race was something else, in those conditions Lee's drive was outstanding to keep Youlden behind him for so many laps until the finish, he did a phenomenal job. But of course full credit goes to Alan for bringing us home as number one, he showed that he will be a force to be reckoned with.
"Our team has showed 'it's got what it takes' and we'll be out to beat the factory-teams each time we hit the track. With overall performances like this we have got the championship title in our sights."
Robert Smith, Team Owner: "This was very important for us, an excellent result in really hard conditions. Alan was superb and his Race One victory is one I'll remember for a long time. Lee having to start from last in Race Two and finishing in 6th overall was a great achievement for a Rookie."
Sitting on top of the championship ladder due to a count-back separating Gurr and Youlden on equal points the team is also the highest placed two-car team and out-gunned the crack Level 1 V8 Supercar outfits fielded by Holden Young Lions (Holden Racing Team), Dick Johnson Racing, Brad Jones Racing, SuperCheap Auto Racing and Team Kiwi Racing.
Holdens occupy four of the top ten championship positions with the Smith's Trucks Racing duo the highest and third-highest of this marque.
The next Round is on the unforgiving street circuit through Adelaide's city parklands as support to the V8 Supercar Championship Series' opening Round on March 18-22. Both Smith's Trucks Racing Team drivers are level headed about this challenge and preparation commences immediately.
Release Date: 23/02/2004
Smith's Trucks Racing Team
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