MORE TO COME SAY ORRCON STEEL PAIR DESPITE GREAT START

Frosty 2nd in practice

The confidence exuded by the Orrcon Steel-supported FPR team heading into the Clipsal 500 this weekend has been backed up by excellent pace in the opening practice sessions in Adelaide today.

Mark Winterbottom in the #5 Orrcon Steel FPR Falcon finished both sessions in second placing, being pipped by just 0.007 in the final session.

In a rarity around the 3.2 kilometre concrete canyon, the final session went without interruption.

The earlier session (the third for the day) was punctuated by red flags, which really affected the rhythm for all competitors – particularly given the top half of the field (on Championship points) was seeing the Adelaide Parklands circuit for the first time in 2011.

Winterbottom was able to sneak in with the second quickest time, having sat atop the leader board for a period of that session.

The new father continues the fast pace that has been evident in the factory Ford team since the beginning of season 2011 and with some overnight changes, expects that good form to carry over into tomorrow.

Will Davison aboard the Orrcon Steel-backed #6 Trading Post FPR Falcon walked away feeling quietly confident with his pace heading into qualifying, despite a lively final session.

The 28-year-old grazed the turn eight wall, damaging a rim. Once the team fitted him with a new set of Dunlop tyres, Davison lit up the timing screens during his second sector – setting the fastest of anyone to that point.

It came unstuck in sector three though when he went off track during the final part of the lap, thus compromising the remainder of his afternoon.

He was disappointed, naturally, given that he was on a green tyre run. Nevertheless, Davison walks away having learnt more about the Ford Performance Racing machine and establishing a solid foundation for the all-in 20 minute qualifying session tomorrow.

All drivers will compete in a 20 minute session at 10:30am local time, before the top 10 shootout at 12, which will determine the grid for the 78 lap race at 2:35pm.

QUOTES FROM THE DRIVERS:

MARK WINTERBOTTOM
“I'm pretty surprised that I ended up second today, it was very difficult to get a clean line out there. As soon as you went off the racing line, you were just in the marbles.

"We have to improve in the first two sectors. The team is working on the car overnight to try and get it right. The track will be totally different tomorrow.

“It’s been such a busy week, it was actually good to get into the car and driving again. The first session was difficult to get a flow happening as every time you’d start a quick one, a red flag came out.

“The second session was a complete contrast – to go a full half hour without a red flag was definitely unusual – but it was good for us to lay down several laps in succession.

“Qualifying will be fascinating tomorrow, there’s nothing in it, I still think we can find some more and will hopefully have the #5 Orrcon Steel FPR Falcon at the head of the pack.”

WILL DAVISON - #6 Trading Post FPR Falcon

“As with every new track I’ve been to with the FPR team so far, we’ve had to work up to it and this was no different. Every new track with this car is so different to what I’m used to from last year. It really means I have to re-learn my driving style to compensate, however when I push hard, I seem to drift into my old habits.

“But, I understand what the car needs now and with more time, that will come more naturally.

“In the second session, touching the wall and then the off during my green tyre lap wasn’t ideal, but the car’s fast – fifth isn’t a bad result all things considered.

“I need to train the brain to understand what it wants and then piece it all together for qualifying. I think we’re in pretty good shape overall.”


WEEKEND SCHEDULE
Times below are South Australian local times, -30 minutes AEDST

Saturday March 19, 2011
10:10am-10:30am – Qualifying
12:00pm – Top 10 Shootout
2:35pm – Race 1 (Series Race 3) – 78 laps (250km)

Sunday, March 20, 2011
10:45am-11:05am – Qualifying
2:35pm – Race 2 (Series Race 4) – 78 laps (250km)

TELEVISION SCHEDULE
Times subject to amendment – please check local guides

SEVEN NETWORK
Saturday, March 19, 2011
1:30pm-5:30pm – Qualifying, Shootout and Race 1 – All markets except Adelaide
Adelaide 1:00pm-5:00pm

Sunday, March 20, 2011
2:00pm-5:30pm – Qualifying and Race 2 – All markets except Adelaide
Adelaide 1:30pm-5:00pm

REPLAYS – SPEED CHANNEL (FOXTEL - Ch 505 & 206)
NB:All times Australian Eastern Daylight Savings Time
Saturday, March 19, 2011
9:30pm-11:30pm (Race 1 Highlights)

Sunday, March 20, 2011
12:30pm-2:30pm (Race 1 Highlights)
7:30pm-9:30pm (Race 1 Highlights)
9:30pm-11:30pm (Race 2 Highlights)

Monday, March 21, 2011
4:00pm-6:00pm (Race 2 Highlights)