Morris makes satisfactory start in Tasmania
26/11/2004 22:07 (Press Release) -
Sirromet Wines Holden Commodore driver Paul Morris made a satisfactory start to the 12th round of the V8 Supercar Championship by emerging 12th fastest in today's opening practice session at Symmons Plains in Tasmania.
The 2.4km circuit near Launceston is hosting a championship round for the first time since 1999. The round comprises three races, the first of them tomorrow, and two more on Sunday.
Morris clocked a best lap time of 53.379-secs in practice in his VY Commodore, finishing 0.533-secs behind Tasmanian Marcos Ambrose who was quickest in the session in a Pirtek Ford Falcon.
The 36-year-old Gold Coast driver is competing at Symmons Plains for the first time since driving a BMW 320i to victory in both races in the sixth round of the Australian (2-litre) Super Touring Championship in December, 2000. He has not raced a V8 car at the track since the 1994 Australian Touring Car Championship when he drove a Holden Commodore.
There will be another practice session at Symmons Plains tomorrow, followed by qualifying and the Top 10 Shoot Out to determine starting positions on the first five rows of the grid. Morris has qualified for the Top 10 Shoot Out at four championship rounds this year.
PAUL MORRIS QUOTES: "The (lap) times are close. There's little more than half-a-second between me and the fastest car on the track, so if we improve tomorrow then another Top 10 (Shoot Out) is a realistic target. We started the session with our base settings and changed the front springs and tried some things with the engine mapping.
"Traditionally this is a horsepower track because of the two long straights. Our straight-line speed isn't as quick as some, but we’re going okay. I'm able to make up time under brakes at the 'hairpin' and the left-hander at the end of the back straight. It's been a few years since I've raced at Symmons Plains. They've built some new pit garages along Pit Straight, which are really good – they're about the same standard as we have at Eastern Creek.
"It's good to be back racing in Tasmania because there are plenty of motorsport fans down here and should see big crowds over the weekend."
RESULTS – PRACTICE:
POS DRIVERS CAR TIME
1. Marcos Ambrose Pirtek Ford Falcon 52.846
2. Todd Kelly Holden Racing Team Commodore 52.860
3. Mark Skaife Holden Racing Team Commodore 52.936
4. Russell Ingall Caltex Havoline Ford Falcon 52.953
5. Steven Richards Castrol Perkins Holden Commodore 53.030
6. Garth Tander Repco Valvoline Holden Commodore 53.030
7. Greg Murphy Kmart Holden Commodore 53.115
8. Craig Lowndes Ford Performance Racing Falcon 53.191
9. Jason Bargwanna Orrcon Ford Falcon 53.199
10. Glenn Seton Ford Performance Racing Falcon 53.204
OTHER:
12. Paul Morris Sirromet Wines Holden Commodore 53.379
CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS (after round 11): Ambrose 1,856; Bright 1,690; Murphy 1,665; R. Kelly 1,622; Ingall 1,609; S. Richards 1,509; T. Kelly 1,483; Bargwanna 1,309; Bowe 1,293; Tander 1,251. Other: Morris 954
Release Date: 12/11/2004
Sirromet Wines - Paul Morris Motorsports
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