Confidence Boost For Luff At Grand Prix
4/3/2004 19:33 (Press Release) -
After using today's first V8 practice session at the Australian Grand Prix to acquaint himself with a track that he had never driven on before yesterday, Shell Helix Racing's Warren Luff was a happy man following official qualifying.
Luff made big time improvements in qualifying but most importantly gained in self-confidence.
"Wednesday was the first time I'd ever driven around Albert Park," Shell Helix Racing driver Warren Luff said.
"Yesterday I managed to find a Falcon with all the right track credentials and completed six very slow laps familiarizing myself with the layout.
"This morning I was feeling pretty good and was really looking forward to getting out there.
"Today is the first time that I've ever raced here and to only get in a dozen laps per session makes it tough to get used to the track.
"But I was happy with my qualifying session; I was twentieth which is a position that I thought was realistic to aim for."
Luff found the going a bit easier following practice.
"In qualifying I was a lot more confident," Luff said.
"I had some brake problems in the early session that we fixed for qualifying and I used them (the brakes) a bit better also.
"Once I got a feel for the track and I worked out the braking points my lap times decreased; I was able to push a bit harder but I did not go overboard.
"This weekend is about driving as many miles as I can, and testing the Ford in race conditions.
"Also I was fastest of the new-comers which is important, and even out-qualified several very experienced drivers, so I'm content.
Luff's teammate Steven Johnson found qualifying frustrating finishing the session in 18th.
"I haven't got the Ford where I want it, it's not quite together yet," Steve Johnson said.
"I know that there is more speed in the Falcon so my confidence is not at all shot.
"I was caught up in traffic that prevented times that where at least half-a-second faster than my two fastest recorded laps, and I think that is being conservative.
"But I also didn't get a proper run together and I made a couple of mistakes."
For Johnson and Luff this weekend's non-championship round is used as quality testing in preparation for Adelaide.
"The best thing about the GP is that it is a meet that really helps in the preparation and development of the Fords and the fine-tuning of the team," Johnson said.
"Of course we want to do well, it's important for the confidence, you want to take a fast car to the Clipsal, but if you don't do as well as you would have liked it's not the end of the world."
The first race of the V8 Supercar season starts at 3.35pm tomorrow (Melbourne time)
Release Date: 4/03/2004
Dick Johnson Racing (Shell Helix)
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