HSV Dealer Team Pukekohe practice report
19/4/2005 13:17 (Press Release) -
Less than a month ago, Garth Tander's #16 Holden Commodore was so badly damaged in a race crash in Adelaide that it had to be completely rebuilt forward of the firewall.
Yesterday, he drove that same car into fifth place on the time sheets in the first practice session for the Placemakers V8 International at New Zealand's quick Pukekohe circuit.
Tander said the performance was "fantastic reward for all the boys" of the Holden Special Vehicles Dealer Team and Melbourne's Dencar repair shop who had worked long hours to rebuild the Commodore.
"They ended up cutting it off at the windscreen and putting a whole new front on it, as there was nothing worth straightening," he said. "Today, it was like a new one."
The HSV Dealer Team driver and team mate Rick Kelly, who was 11th quickest yesterday, will both hit the track for tomorrow's qualifying session with high hopes of making the Top 10 shoot-out for pole position.
Tander and Kelly were among 10 Holden drivers in the top 12 fastest entrants in yesterday's two-hour practice session, which was topped by Marcos Ambrose, Steven Richards and Paul Radisich.
The HSV drivers spent much of the long session setting up their cars, diving in out of the pits for numerous adjustments to establish the best set-up for the newly resurfaced Pukekohe track.
Last year's practice lap record of 56.36 seconds, set by Jason Bright, was shattered by more than 20 cars, indicating that this weekend's racing will be run at a cracking pace.
Kelly is confident his #15 Commodore has more pace than his best lap of 56.18 seconds indicated. He said a top 10 qualifying position would be today's first goal.
#15 Rick Kelly (11th - fastest lap 56.18 sec.): "We haven't had one of these long practice sessions for a while. The guys on team did well, but I think I could have used the time a bit better. Normally, in a 35-minute practice session, we are always in a rush. When we were in about 25th position for three-quarters of the session, I went out and tried to put a time in on one lap. I just needed to relax a bit more. But we are in good shape and I think there are a couple of 10ths in me and a couple of 10ths in the car at the moment."
#16 Garth Tander (4th fastest - 55.93 sec.): "For a car that was destroyed up to the windscreen a couple of weeks ago, it is fantastic. It was a little evil early, but we massaged it through the session and it got better and better. Fifth fastest is a fantastic reward for the boys who worked so hard to rebuild it. It's like new. It still could be a little better, so we will be working on a few things tonight."
Release Date: 15/04/2005
HSV Dealer Team
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