RAIN POSTPONES RACE ONE IN NEW ZEALAND
9/5/2004 13:09 (Press Release) -
Constant rain throughout the day has forced the postponement of the opening race in PlaceMakers V8 Supercar International at Pukekohe in New Zealand this afternoon.
It hasn’t rained in the Auckland area in the past five weeks but the skies opened at day break and never seem to relent throughout the day soaking the 2.82 km circuit.
After several discussions between race officials and a number of drivers the decision was made to postponed the 36-lap race until tomorrow where Orrcon Racing drivers Jason Bargwanna and Mark Winterbottom will start from 10th and 23rd respectively.
Earlier in the day Orrcon Racing driver Jason Bargwanna competed in his second straight shootout at the Pukekohe circuit. He was the first car out in the shootout on the circuit that was already soaked from the rain.
Bargwanna pushed his Orrcon Racing Falcon to the limits on the traction testing circuit but was unable to improve on yesterday’s qualifying effort.
“It was great to be in the shootout but I really didn’t make the most out of the opportunity,” said Bargwanna.
“I had a red hot go in the lap but cost myself some time in the opening part of the lap running wide.
“With the everyone being so close you can’t afford any mistakes and I was really looking forward to having a race this afternoon but unfortunately that didn’t happen.
“I hadn’t seen the circuit since the shootout so I don’t really know the actual conditions but safety is always the highest of priorities.”
During the warm up session earlier in the day Mark Winterbottom showed good pace in the trying conditions aboard his Orrcon Racing Falcon to be 11th fastest at one stage in the session.
“The car was good this morning and I felt comfortable in the wet conditions,” said Winterbottom.
“Eastern Creek was my first wet race and the experience I got from there has given me some confidence in conditions that we experienced this morning.”
Today’s postponed race will be added to tomorrow’s program with three 36-laps races to begin at 10:00am, 1:10pm and 3:40pm, each with a compulsory pit stop.
TOP TEN SHOOTOUT
1. Mark Skaife (Holden) 1:04.7477
2. Marcos Ambrose (Ford) 1:04.7517
3. Greg Murphy (Holden) 1:05.2608
4. Jason Bright (Holden) 1:05.7407
5. Steven Richards (Holden) 1:06.5466
6. Paul Radisich (Ford) 1:06.5501
7. John Bowe (Ford) 1:06.5503
8. Max Wilson (Ford) 1:06.5796
9. Todd Kelly (Holden) 1:06.7589
10. Jason Bargwanna (Ford) 1:07.6230
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
Sunday
10:00 Race 1 – 100Klms (36-laps)
13:10 Race 2 - 100 Klms (36-laps)
15:40 Race 3 - 100 Klms (36-laps)
TV TELECAST
Network Ten (Australia)
Sunday
12:00 - 17:00
Tv One (New Zealand)
12:00 – 18:00
Release Date: 01/04/2004
Larkham Orrcon Racing
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