Hitout points to strong Sandown
6/9/2004 13:03 (Press Release) -
Team Dynamik's test day at Mallala this week has been the perfect warm-up for a strong showing at the Betta Electrical Sandown 500, from 10-12 September in Melbourne.
South Australia's only V8 Supercar team used the 1 September hitout at Mallala to practice pit stops, driver changeovers and fine tune set-up for Sandown, Round 9 of the 2004 V8 Supercar Championship Series.
Team Dynamik race director Oscar Fiorinotto said the two VY Commodores clocked "fastest ever" times at Mallala.
The Roadships car #44, with regular driver Simon Wills and Nations Cup leader Paul Stokell at the wheel, logged around 50 laps in mild conditions. The Roadships #45, with regular Dale Brede and V8 newcomer Will Davison steering, completed close to 70 laps.
"On the test day performance, we'll be taking our Oran Park speed onto Sandown," Fiorinotto said.
"We didn't overrun the cars on the test day - we spent three to four hours on practice pit stops and driver changeovers," he said. "Our preparation for the enduros is looking really good."
Driver Simon Wills said the test day refined specific set-ups for Sandown, a race that Team Dynamik was just one corner away from winning last year.
"We kept the laps down on both cars and made a few tweaks specifically for the enduros," he said.
His combination with current GT Nations Cup leader Paul Stokell will be critical for Team Dynamik to finish well next weekend.
Stokell said he had quickly found the groove during Wednesday's test. "We didn't do a huge amount of laps but we were all quickly down to fast times," he said.
V8 Supercar rookie Will Davison admits the enduros will be a huge challenge. "I don't have a lot of V8 experience but I have learnt that you don't have to do the fastest lap - the key is to find consistency in the longer distance races."
Co-driver Dale Brede will again set his sights on qualifying well at Sandown, after encouraging times around Mallala.
"With some adjustments to the brakes we've been able to improve the whole car package - we'll be aiming for a top 15 qualifying position," he said.
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