WPS Racing notches its best Qualifying result
14/8/2004 15:00 (Press Release) -
WPS Racing has notched its best ever qualifying performance as both David Besnard and Mark Noske fell agonisingly short of qualifying for the Top 10 Shootout in the seventh round of the V8 Supercar Championship Series at Winton Park Raceway today.
Besnard qualified for tomorrow’s race in 12th position and Noske in an unlucky 19th position but both had their shot at the top 10 cruelled when the session was prematurely halted after a series of incidents on the wet track.
Besnard was deep into his fastest lap of the day when the session was red-flagged, leaving him less than two-tenths of a second outside the top 10.
He was originally recorded as 15th in qualifying but the result was changed after it was discovered a number of other drivers completed their fastest laps under the red flag.
He was elevated back into 12th position but found little reason to celebrate despite it being his best qualifying performance of the year.
“I’m disappointed I’m not in the top 10,” said Besnard.
“We have been inside the top 10 all day and we were on target to get back in there until the red flag on my fastest lap.
“The end result is one of those that is disappointing but also encouraging.”
Noske was left feeling similarly dejected after he too was a genuine chance at a top 10 result.
“I had one of those days where I was held up by two drivers on my fastest lap of the day,” said Noske.
“Without those hold ups I could have been a little quicker. I feel we deserved to be higher up than what we are.
“The car was sensational and if I had the opportunity to stay out there (to complete the whole qualifying session) it could have been a different result.”
When final placings were originally posted Noske was listed as 17th and the team believed he would be elevated at least three positions due to others recording their fastest times under the final red flag.
However, stewards went back through the four red flag incidents in the qualifying session and declared Noske’s fastest time was recorded when the first red flag came out early in the session.
Nevertheless, the 12th and 19th placings are the best combined qualifying result for WPS Racing.
It sets the team up for a good race day on Sunday, particularly if the rain continues to fall at Winton.
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