Morris Slowed By Brake Problems In Darwin
21/5/2004 20:52 (Press Release) -
Sirromet Wines Holden Commodore driver Paul Morris was slowed by brake problems with his newly-built car and finished 24th fastest in today's opening practice session for Sunday's fourth round of the V8 Supercar Championship.
The Commodore Morris is driving at the Hidden Valley circuit near Darwin comprises a new VY body shell, fitted with some components from the Holden he crashed at 200-km/h in the previous championship round at Pukekohe in New Zealand on May 2.
Morris, whose Gold Coast-based team built the revised Commodore after Pukekohe, was further hampered in the first practice at Hidden Valley by his positioning in a replacement seat. The racing seat he previously used was broken in the crash in New Zealand.
Despite the problems, Morris' best lap time of 1-min 11.062-secs around the 2.9km Hidden Valley circuit was only 1.009-secs slower than Todd Kelly, who was fastest in the session in a Holden Racing Team Commodore.
There is a further practice session tomorrow, followed by qualifying, the Top 10 Shoot Out, and a 20-mins race. The round will be completed by two 100km races on Sunday.
PAUL MORRIS QUOTES: "The lap times are close so I'm not too worried about my position at this stage. I think we can go quicker once we fix out the rear brakes, and that's what we're working on now. Basically it's one of those 'teething' problems you have to expect when you build up a new car.
"The team have done a really good job putting everything together so quickly, and there's nothing wrong with the way the car is handling. Now we need some more track time to sort things out and get everything working the way we want it to. I'd been using the seat that was broken in New Zealand for a couple of years, but unfortunately they don't make them anymore.
"I've had to go with something different and it's too narrow across the shoulders and it's difficult to get my back in the right position. The track was slippery today, but the grip will get better as more rubber goes down."
RESULTS – PRACTICE:
POS DRIVERS CAR TIME
1. Todd Kelly Holden Racing Team Commodore 1:10.053
2. Marcos Ambrose Pirtek Ford Falcon 1:10.330
3. Rick Kelly Kmart Holden Commodore 1:10.393
4. Craig Lowndes Ford Performance Racing Ford Falcon 1:10.451
5. Jason Bright PWR Holden Commodore 1:10.456
6. Paul Dumbrell Castrol Perkins Holden Commodore 1:10.478
7. Greg Murphy Kmart Holden Commodore 1:10.511
8. Glenn Seton Ford Performance Racing Ford Falcon 1:10.588
9. Russell Ingall Caltex Havoline Ford Falcon 1:10.613
10. Mark Skaife Holden Racing Team Commodore 1:10.653
OTHER:
24. Paul Morris Sirromet Wines Holden Commodore 1:11.062
CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS (after round 3): Ambrose 532, S. Richards 528, Murphy 509, R. Kelly 502, Bright 457, Baird 364, Ingall 350, Weel 347, Johnson 341, Bowe 326, Morris 324, Tander 322
Release Date: 21/05/2004
Sirromet - Life, Style, Wines
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