Porter powers through the field
7/4/2005 18:45 (Press Release) -
The Hyundai Construction Racing Falcon’s start to the first round of the Holden Performance Drive Centre V8 Supercar Series didn’t start well – less than half way through the first practice session it hit a stalled car amidships in Adelaide’s blind chicane.
Hard work by the Steve Ellery Racing crew and the TAFE crew at the circuit ensured car #31 a start. Only 9 laps were completed, the Hyundai Construction Racing Falcon missing both practice session 2 and qualifying. So the first HPDC series race of the year had Mark Porter starting from the rear of the grid.
What a start! Before turn 3 Mark had passed five cars and was intent on taking two more on the way into that turn. Coming three-wide into turn 3 he was tapped by Henderson and slid reasonably gently into the outside wall, with Henderson pushing in the driver side door skin. Porter was able to drive the Hyundai Construction Racing Falcon away, but was again near the rear of the field, being in 17th spot at the end of lap 1.
By lap 10 of the 24 lap race Porter, also supported by long-time partners Hydraulink fluid connectors and CarPoint, had passed three-fifths of the field. On lap 2, he was 15th; lap 5, 13th; lap 6, 11th; lap 7, 10th; lap 8, 9th; and lap 10, 8th.
But the Hyundai Construction Racing Falcon was getting even faster, posting its fastest time on lap 14. Porter quickly cut Grant Elliott’s lead from 10 seconds on lap 7 to less than 7 seconds at race end, finishing a more than creditable 7th in his first outing in the brand-new Steve Ellery Racing built BA Falcon.
After the race, Porter said, “We’ve got some points after a less than perfect start to the weekend. In addition, I’m on the fourth row of the grid for the start of race 2, so I’ve got a chance to gain a few more places and a few more points.”
Race Two of the HPDC V8 Supercar series starts at 9.55 am on Saturday, 19 March.
Release Date: 18/03/2005
Hyundai Construction Racing - SER
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