Cautious Tactics For FPR

Frosty 9th and Richo 10th in practice

V8 Supercars’ newest track prompted cautious tactics from Ford Performance Racing during today’s practice for the inaugural Dunlop Townsville 400.

With soaring temperatures, the circuit proved to be a trial for both Mark Winterbottom and Steve Richards, who finished 9th and 10th fastest respectively in the Orrcon Steel and Castrol FPR Falcons.

“It’s a pretty busy little place; not much rest for a driver!” said Richo. “It’s going to provide some pretty exciting racing tomorrow with its tight and twisty format and direction changes; make just a little mistake and you can get passed by 13 cars!”

Neither is fazed, however, saying they are just getting started on the demanding new street track.

“I was quite worried about Turn One before today,” said Frosty. “If we’d had to brake on the entry there would have been no room for error and those concrete walls look pretty unforgiving! But it was easily flat so it’s not half as scary as I thought!

“We learnt a lot in practice, but we’ve got to make some changes before tomorrow’s qualifying to improve the speed. It should be a good race car but we’ve got to get the changes right to squeeze the last bit of speed out of it!”

FPR will be back on track tomorrow for the first qualifying session at 10:30am.

Dunlop Townsville 400 - V8 Supercars Races 11 & 12
TOWNSVILLE STREET CIRCUIT
PRACTICE
1. Will Davison, HRT, 1:13.0524R
2. Michael Caruso, GRM, +0.0064
3. Jason Richards, BJR, +0.0909
4. Jamie Whincup, 888, +0.1033
5. Tony D'Alberto, RNR, BJR, 0.2478
6. Shane Van Gisbergen, SBR, 0.2733
7. James Courtney, DJR, 0.3543
8. Fabian Coulthard, GCR, +0.3770
9. Mark Winterbottom, Orrcon Steel FPR Falcon, +0.4065
10. Steven Richards, Castrol FPR Falcon, +0.4185