Looking forward to fresh tyres

Frosty 6th in practice

Darwin's reigning victors, Mark Winterbottom and Steve Richards, were sixth and seventh quickest for the V8 Supercar Championship Practice at Hidden Valley today.

Ford Performance Racing has a lot to live up to after taking out its first 1-2 round finish at the circuit last year and both drivers said everything was going according to plan after this afternoon's session.

"I think we've done a really good job for the last two rounds in particular," said Castrol FPR Falcon driver Steve Richards. "Qualifying has gone really well and we've done things to the car that will help me. My expectation was to come here and be ultra competitive and if we can unlock that last 10th we'll be looking good.

The only problem encountered during the 50-minute Practice B session was a faulty cool suit, designed to help drivers cope with the extraordinary cabin temperatures.

"It was pretty hot!," said Orrcon Steel FPR Falcon driver Mark Winterbottom. "You've just got to block it out and pretend it's not there but that's easier said than done.

"It's going to be hot for 67 laps on Sunday if it fails again so we've just got to make sure it doesn't. The whole of that last segment was easy because when the suit is working you could do 100 laps no problem. It makes a massive difference."

Looking at the times, Team Principal Tim Edwards estimated a large percentage of the field fitted better tyres to record a quick lap. Since the Castrol and Orrcon Steel FPR Falcons were not among them, sixth and seventh-fastest seems very promising for tomorrow's qualifying at 11am.

2009 Skycity Triple Crown - V8 Supercar Championship Series
Hidden Valley Raceway
PRACTICE
1. Will Davison, HRT, 1:09.7269
2. Shane Van Gisbergen, SBR, +0.1060
3. Craig Lowndes, 888, +0.1595
4. Jamie Whincup, 888, +1630
5. Rick Kelly, Kelly Racing, +0.1684
6. Mark Winterbottom, Orrcon Steel FPR Falcon, +0.2582
7. Steve Richards, Castrol FPR Falcon, +0.2618