R1K QUAL - Wills, Brede top times in Wakefield qualifying
24/2/2001 22:30 (V8 Wire - Jason Whittaker) -
Two drivers better known for their open-wheeler exploits will start from the front row of the grid in tomorrow’s Konica V8 Supercar Series opener at Wakefield Park Raceway.
Twice Formula Holden champion Simon Wills and his former rival Dale Brede will go head-to-head in tin tops in tomorrow’s three sprint races.
Wills had the honour of claiming the track record (this is the first visit to Wakefield Park for the V8 Supercars) with his 1:00.39 minute scorcher in oppressively warm conditions during this afternoon’s 25-minute qualifying session – 0.18 seconds ahead of Dale Brede.
24-year-old Wills, a Stone Brothers endurance sub from 2000, is racing an ex-Gibson Motorsport Commodore under the Birrana Racing banner for his first full-time assault on a Supercar championship. He needed just eight laps to secure pole position.
NRC Racing’s Dale Brede overcame handling problems and radio communications failure to grab a front row position alongside Wills. With fresh rubber, Brede made his dash in the dying seconds of qualifying to jump from a lowly eighth to second quickest.
Brede, a Supercar debutant, showed plenty of pace throughout the day, topping the time sheets in the second pre-qualifying practice session.
“The team called a late pit stop where we made some set up adjustments and changed tyres, so I had to give it my all to get onto the front row,” Canberra-based Brede said.
“To make the front row at my debut V8 Supercar race is fantastic and the NRC Racing team has a great deal to be excited about," he said.
Owen Kelly (with a little help from friends, John Faulkner Racing) had the best of the first practice session, but will start from third after qualifying. He will share the second row with Gibson Motorsport flag-barer, 18-year-old Paul Dumbrell in the Wynn’s Commodore.
Ross Stone played a hand in Queenslander Michael Simpson’s qualifying efforts, setting a time good enough for the third row. Stone is overseeing Simpson’s Wakefield Park campaign this weekend – an added benefit of Simpson’s purchase of the ex-David Besnard SBR EL Falcon.
Level 1-backed Leanne Ferrier could only manage tenth in her Garry Rogers Valvoline-Cummins Commodore. She can take heart knowing the reverse grid format could propel her to pole position come the second race.
Only three Falcons finished amongst the top ten fastest.
The Goulburn area baked under 30-degree heat this afternoon, at times pushing the track temperature towards 60-degrees. Conditions are expected to be cooler tomorrow.
The first of tomorrow’s three 20-minute sprints will get the green light at 11:30am.
**TOP 10 - QUALIFYING**
1st SIMON WILLS (Team Dynamik) - AU Falcon [1:00.3922min]
2nd DALE BREDE (NRC Racing) - VT Commodore [1:00.5775]
3rd OWEN KELLY (John Faulkner Racing) - VS Commodore [1:00.6122]
4th PAUL DUMBRELL (Gibson Motorsport) - VT Commodore [1:00.7321]
5th MICHAEL SIMPSON (Michael Simpson Racing) - EL Falcon [1:00.7605]
6th GARRY HOLT (Eastern Creek Kart Racing) - EL Falcon [1:00.9800]
7th DAVID PARSONS (David Parsons) - VT Commodore [1:01.0080]
8th RIC SHAW (Ric Shaw Motorsport) - VS Commodore [1:01.1996]
9th MAL ROSE (Mal Rose Racing) - VS Commodore [1:01.2571]
10th LEANNE FERRIER (Garry Rogers Motorsport) - VT Commodore [1:01.3031]
For complete qualifying results:
http://www.v8supercar.com.au/2001results/kv8/rnd1/rnd1_qual.htm
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