Round 3 PlaceMakers NZ V8 International - Part 1 Practice Sessions
1/5/2004 14:43 (Mark Jones) -
As the V8Supercar Championship Series set out for their annual visit to the neighbouring islands of New Zealand, it was the resident of another island, Tasmanian John Bowe who struck the first blow, recording the fastest time in the opening practice session held in the morning at Pukekohe Park near Auckland.
Bowe's Ozemail Racing Team BA Falcon flew around the fastest circuit the V8Supercars visit in a 57.0471, still six tenths away from Mark Skaife's 2003 lap record. Skaife himself was second fastest in a return to form for the HRT team leader, less than a tenth from the veteran Ford driver.
Defending series champion Marcos Ambrose was third fastest in the Pirtek Stone Brothers Racing Falcon was third fastest, another tenth further back, with PWR Performance Products racer Jason Bright holding down fourth position, a similar margin behind Ambrose.
The 'Toddler' and the 'Enforcer' completed the top six, and completing an even Holden/Ford split as Todd Kelly circulated within hundredths of Bright and Russell Ingall.
Local hero and four time winner of the New Zealand V8Supercar events, Greg Murphy could manage only eighth fastest in the Kmart Commodore.
WPS sole representative, David Besnard did not set a time in this session, while Craig Lowndes completed only two timed laps.
Top Ten:
P1 12 John Bowe Ozemail Racing Team
P2 2 Mark Skaife Holden Racing Team
P3 1 Marcos Ambrose Pirtek Racing
P4 50 Jason Bright PWR Performance Products
P5 22 Todd Kelly Holden Racing Team
P6 9 Russell Ingall Caltex Havoline Race Team
P7 888 Max Wilson Team Betta Electrical
P8 51 Greg Murphy Kmart Racing Team
P9 17 Steven Johnson Shell Helix Racing
P10 11 Steven Richards Castrol Perkins Motorsport
The Friday afternoon session brought more joy for Jason Bright as the PWR driver struck back for Holden to top the time sheets with a 56.8927 lap time to lead defending champion Marcos Ambrose by a tenth of a second with Greg Murphy improving to third fastest, just ahead of Friday mornings fastets driver, John Bowe.
The biggest improver was Ford Performance Racing's Glenn Seton, moving from 20th in the morning session to eighth in the afternoon. However for fans of the Holden Racing Team, the news was not as good with both Mark Skaife and Todd Kelly slower than in the morning session, Skaife just missing the top ten in eleventh while Kelly was 14th behind the two Shell Helix Falcons who were showing improved speed since the early season races.
P1 50 Jason Bright PWR Performance Products
P2 1 Marcos Ambrose Pirtek Racing
P3 51 Greg Murphy Kmart Racing Team
P4 12 John Bowe Ozemail Racing Team
P5 9 Russell Ingall Caltex Havoline Race Team
P6 10 Jason Bargwanna Larkham Orrcon Racing
P7 11 Steven Richards Castrol Perkins Motorsport
P8 5 Glenn Seton Ford Performance Racing
P9 16 Paul Weel PWR Performance Products
P10 88 Paul Radisich Team Betta Electrical
Combined Times
P1 50 Jason Bright PWR Performance Products
P2 1 Marcos Ambrose Pirtek Racing
P3 51 Greg Murphy Kmart Racing Team
P4 12 John Bowe Ozemail Racing Team
P5 9 Russell Ingall Caltex Havoline Race Team
P6 2 Mark Skaife Holden Racing Team
P7 10 Jason Bargwanna Larkham Orrcon Racing
P8 11 Steven Richards Castrol Perkins Motorsport
P9 5 Glenn Seton Ford Performance Racing
P10 16 Paul Weel PWR Performance Products
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