R3S PRE-QUAL - Big names through to weekend
27/4/2001 21:15 (V8 Wire - Jason Whittaker) -
The big names survived this afternoon’s cutthroat pre-qualifying contest at Eastern Creek Raceway, ahead of the third round this weekend.
Team Kiwi Racing are yet to gain a start in the Shell Series on their own merits, with Jason Richards again just missing the cut. Former Bathurst winner Tomas Mezera, aboard an Imrie Motorsport Commodore for the round, is also heading home tonight after failing to qualify.
Nine drivers (those outside the top 25 points-getters this year) were entered to compete for starting rights – just seven left standing following the 15-minute session.
Cameron McConville set the benchmark, cruising to a 1:33.44 minute quickest lap.
Unlucky Stone Brothers ace David Besnard was second quickest, ahead of Paul Romano (debuting Greg Murphy’s former Commodore) and Paul Weel.
After missing the first round through pre-qualifying elimination, local boy Dean Canto scraped into the weekend in the dying stages of the session.
Rodney Forbes was to compete for a weekend start today, but was forced to withdraw through illness.
The full 32-car field hit the track tomorrow morning for the first of two practice sessions, ahead of the afternoon’s qualifying. The fastest ten shoot-out for pole just after 3:30pm.
**PRE-QUALIFYING RESULTS**
1st CAMERON McCONVILLE (Lansvale Smash Repairs) - VX Commodore [1:33.4470min]
2nd DAVID BESNARD (Caltex Havoline Racing) - AU Falcon [1:33.6309]
3rd PAUL ROMANO (Holden Young Lions) - VX Commodore [1:34.2508]
4th PAUL WEEL (K & J Thermal Products Racing) - AU Falcon [1:34.3095]
5th DUGAL McDOUGALL (Pepsi Racing) - VX Commodore [1:34.3520]
6th PETER DOULMAN (Peter Doulman Racing) - VT Commodore [1:35.1167]
7th DEAN CANTO (RPM International Racing) - AU Falcon [1:35.3294]
DNQ JASON RICHARDS (Team Kiwi Racing) - VT Commodore [1:35.4172]
DNQ TOMAS MEZERA (Imrie Motorsport) - VX Commodore [1:36.5443]
For complete pre-qualifying practice/results:
http://www.natsoft.com.au/cgi-bin/results.cgi?29/04/2001.ARDC
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