Team Betta Electrical prepared - rain, hail or shine
18/9/2004 17:36 (Press Release) -
The initial practice sessions for this weekend’s Betta Electrical Sandown 500 saw the Team Betta Electrical crew devote the majority of their attention to final adjustments to both cars in advance of today’s qualifying session.
Fairly consistent times were achieved by both of the Team Betta Electrical cars throughout the three practice sessions.
Max Wilson exited from the circuit in today’s final practice session held under very wet conditions, damaging the frontal section of the car and preventing its return to the circuit with Paul Radisich behind the wheel. The wet conditions continue to play havoc with the field and will certainly have an impact on the 500 kilometer race tomorrow if similar conditions continue.
All four drivers are feeling confident with the cars after their practice sessions and are looking forward to the race tomorrow. Yvan Muller who is co-driving car # 888 with Dean Canto has been able to adjust to the different style of driving as compared to the cars he is used to driving in the BTTC.
Muller observed that he was not expecting the weather here in Australia to be so reminiscent of some of the European conditions. He said, ” The cars here in this series are very different from those I am used to driving in Europe. It has taken me a while to get used to the set up, but I am sure with my driving partner, Dean Canto we can improve on our efforts in practice over the last two days. “
Max Wilson said, “I was disappointed we had problems this morning during practice but at least we are able to make some adjustments now before the race and we can be confident the car will be well prepared for this important endurance race. Paul and I are both feeling positive about this weekend and are sure we will do well with our combination.”
The carnage during qualifying today was fairly serious, with many cars finishing the session off the circuit and into the mud or in some cases managing to dance their way through the mud to get back onto the track. This caused further problems later in the day as the debris from the cars fell onto the track whilst the weather continued to deteriorate.
Unfortunately the carnage on the track was partly responsible for neither of the Team Betta Electrical cars being able to fight their way through to take part in the Top Ten Shoot out. Both the cars had difficulty in this session and were unable to finish in the Top Ten.
Radisich was philosophical in commenting on this, saying, “The team will be able to concentrate on ensuring the cars are at their peak for the big race tomorrow now we know our starting positions.” “We are certainly hoping the weather will clear somewhat by the morning, but if it doesn’t, at least we have had time to experience the cars handling today in similar conditions. “
The cars will take their place on the grid for the start of the Betta Electrical 500 tomorrow, with car #888 driven by Dean Canto and Yvan Muller in 26th place and Betta Electrical car #88 driven by Paul Radisich and Max Wilson will be at 19th place.
Guy Houghton, CEO, Betta Stores Ltd. title sponsor of the event, presented a trophy to Rick Kelly driving the K-Mart Commodore car 51, as winner of the Top Ten Shoot Out.
Conditions continued to worsen at the circuit with hail hitting the circuit at around 4.45pm, which saw end the Carrera Cup
Qualifying Saturday
Pos Car Entrant Driver Vehicle
1 29 Sirromet - Life Style Wine Paul Morris Holden Commodore VY
2 2 Holden Racing Team Mark Skaife Holden Commodore VY
3 51 Kmart Racing Team Rick Kelly Holden Commodore VY
4 1 Pirtek Racing Marcos Ambrose Ford Falcon BA
5 6 Ford Performance Racing Craig Lowndes Ford Falcon BA
6 17 Shell Helix Racing Steven Johnson Ford Falcon BA
7 18 Shell Helix Racing Owen Kelly Ford Falcon BA
8 10 Larkham Orrcon Racing Jason Bargwanna Ford Falcon BA
9 50 PWR Performance Products Jason Bright Holden Commodore VY
10 8 Castrol Perkins Motorsport Paul Dumbrell Holden Commodore VY
11 31 Super Cheap Auto Racing Steve Ellery Ford Falcon BA
12 11 Castrol Perkins Motorsport Steven Richards Holden Commodore VY
13 15 Kmart Racing Team Steve Owen Holden Commodore VY
14 34 Repco Valvoline Cummins Team Garth Tander Holden Commodore VY
15 9 Caltex Havoline Race Team Russell Ingall Ford Falcon BA
16 5 Holden Racing Team Jason Plato Holden Commodore VY
17 21 Team Kiwi Racing Craig Baird Holden Commodore VY
18 23 WPS David Besnard Ford Falcon BA
19 88 Team Betta Electrical Paul Radisich Ford Falcon BA
20 3 Tasman Motorsport Jason Richards Holden Commodore VY
21 12 OzEmail Racing Team John Bowe Ford Falcon BA
22 48 WPS John McIntyre Ford Falcon BA
23 16 PWR Performance Products Matthew White Holden Commodore VY
24 45 Roadships/Alphawest/World Ind Dale Brede Holden Commodore VY
25 33 Repco Valvoline Cummins Team Nathan Pretty Holden Commodore VY
26 888 Team Betta Electrical Dean Canto Ford Falcon BA
27 44 Roadships/Alphawest/World Ind Simon Wills Holden Commodore VY
28 21 OzEmail Racing Team Andrew Jones Ford Falcon BA
29 20 Larkham Orrcon Racing Mark Larkham Ford Falcon BA
30 75 Toll Racing Anthony Tratt Holden Commodore VY
31 14 Smiths Trucks / IMS Phillip Scifleet Holden Commodore VY
32 7 Castrol Perkins Motorsport J.Wincup/A.Davison Holden Commodore VX
33 24 Romano Racing Grant Elliott Ford Falcon AU
34 5 Ford Performance Racing Glenn Seton Ford Falcon BA
35 43 PWR Performance Products Kurt Wimmer Holden Commodore VX
Top Ten Shootout Saturday
Pos Car Entrant Driver Vehicle Lap Time
1 51 Kmart Racing Team Rick Kelly Holden Commodore VY 01:22.1
2 1 Pirtek Racing Marcos Ambrose Ford Falcon BA 01:22.7
3 29 Sirromet - Life Style Wine Paul Morris Holden Commodore VY 01:22.9
4 2 Holden Racing Team Mark Skaife Holden Commodore VY 01:23.2
5 6 Ford Performance Racing Craig Lowndes Ford Falcon BA 01:23.3
6 17 Shell Helix Racing Steven Johnson Ford Falcon BA 01:23.9
7 50 PWR Performance Products Jason Bright Holden Commodore VY 01:24.7
8 8 Castrol Perkins Motorsport Paul Dumbrell Holden Commodore VY 01:25.1
9 10 Larkham Orrcon Racing Jason Bargwanna Ford Falcon BA 01:25.3
10 18 Shell Helix Racing Owen Kelly Ford Falcon BA 01:26.0
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