Cameron McLean performs the impossible
4/7/2004 12:01 (Press Release) -
Howard Racings Cameron McLean achieved excellent times during Friday’s Konica-Minolta V8 Supercars practice and qualifying sessions driving the teams AU ‘Breakfree’ Falcon car #27, with the first practice session seeing McLean posting the second quickest time for the session of 1:11.9814 and in his second practice session recorded a time of 1:11.9621, being 4th fastest for the session behind Andrew Jones, Les Holdworth and Owen Kelly.
Qualifying saw McLean, draw on his experience and skill to post the second fastest time of 1:11.1556, behind Owen Kelly in the Fujitsu Ford who registered the fastest time of 1:11.1036.
Starting on the front row of the grid for the first of today’s two sixteen lap races, McLean was edged into second position in the first corner by Owen Kelly driving the Team Fujitsu Ford.
McLean kept the pressure on Kelly during the opening lap only to experience a bad vibration in the car whilst passing the start finish line for the commencement of lap two, moments later the clutch on McLean’s car expired resulting in car #27 coming to a halt at the end of the main straight, with only one lap completed of the sixteen lap race.
“I just couldn’t believe it when the clutch let go, I noticed a vibration in the car the lap before, then all of a sudden the clutch just let go after turn six and I coasted to a halt at the end of the main straight, its disappointing because I had great expectations of the car today, but I guess that’s racing” - commented McLean.
Mark Howard driving the Howard Racing Ford car #37 posted some reasonable midfield times in practice only to be disappointed by not being able to qualify the car due to an engine fire which totally destroyed the engine.
A disappointed Howard said, “It’s just not our day today”.
The second of the 16 lap races today was conducted in a reverse grid format, and because of the DNF’s in Race one, both Howard Racing entry’s of Tim Gordon in Car #83 and Cameron McLean in Car #27 started at the rear of the grid.
McLean looked set for a brilliant race when he was able to make up 13 places in the first lap. Unfortunately as Mark Howard had already commented, “Today was just not to be a memorable day for Howard racing”.
On lap 2, McLean was forced off the circuit on turn four, returning to the circuit in again last position and with the task ahead of him yet again.
McLean came back fighting and again made up 10 places before he had another excursion in lap 4, this converted to McLean finding himself again at the back of the pack with only 12 laps remaining.
McLean’s experience showed through, as he was able to claw his way through the field avoiding the incidents and carnage happening around him.
With the skilful driving Mclean is becoming noted for, he climbed back through the field to be in 17th position by lap 11.
Team – mate Tim Gordon driving Howard Racing car #83, was sitting at 24th place at that stage, also managed to avoid the racing incidents, which dogged this race.
McLean managed to keep fighting his way through the field to finish in a well-deserved 12th position, with Howard Racing Car #83 of Tim Gordon finishing in 22nd position.
“ I was very pleased with the overall performance of the car in this race” - said McLean, “It would have been better if I had not had to pass the same 13 cars twice over, but at least I managed to stay out of trouble and the car went well for the entire race. I’m hoping for a far better result in tomorrow’s 28 lap race”. – commented McLean.
This gives Mclean a good chance in the final race of this round to be conducted at 11.15am Sunday morning at Queensland Raceway.
RESULTS
Progressive Series Points Top Five
1. 30 Luke Youlden Super Cheap Auto Racing 715 pts
2. 19 Andrew Jones Team BOC 699 pts
3. 71 Owen Kelly Team Fujitsu 692 pts
4. 81 Jose Fernandez Team Fujitsu 671 pts
5. 111 Mark Porter Hydraulink Racing 663 pts
Race Two Top Ten
1. 96 Kurt Wimmer Holden Young Lions 16-lap
2. 40 Wayne Wakefield Greenfield Mowers Racing
3. 19 Andrew Jones Team BOC
4. 71 Owen Kelly Team Fujitsu
5. 64 Tony D'Alberto Independent Race Cars
6. 111 Mark Porter Hydraulink Racing
7. 72 Lee Holdsworth Smiths Trucks
8. 81 Jose Fernandez Team Fujitsu
9. 28 Matthew White Gulf Western
10. 68 Alex Yoong Shane Beikoff Racing
Race One Top Ten
1. 71 Owen Kelly Team Fujitsu 16-lap
2. 19 Andrew Jones Team BOC
3. 72 Lee Holdsworth Smiths Trucks
4. 28 Matthew White Gulf Western
5. 111 Mark Porter Hydraulink Racing
6. 30 Luke Youlden Super Cheap Auto Racing
7. 81 Jose Fernandez Team Fujitsu
8. 46 Alan Gurr Holden Young Lions
9. 65 Marcus Zukanovic Actron Air/PCR
10.64 Tony D'Alberto Independent Race Cars
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