Day One's Dry Run For FPR

Threatening skies led Ford Performance Racing down the wrong strategic route today as they waited for the heavens to open before pitting at the Norton 360 Sandown Challenge.

The tactic meant Mark Winterbottom's Orrcon Steel FPR Falcon was slowed by back-markers as everybody looked skywards, but despite rain falling on the outskirts of the circuit, the bitumen remained dry.

"We were trying to luck into a strategy today, but it cost us a few spots in the end," said Frosty. "When you're running around in 10th it doesn't really make much difference anyway; 10th or 12th is about the same."

Steve Richards, meanwhile, finished first of the drivers on hard tyres and is keyed up about having the Dunlop Sport Maxx Sprint Tyres in his back pocket for tomorrow.

"There's a definite advantage here with the soft tyres, and the fact we've got them for tomorrow will mean something as long as we can qualify in the top five; then there's a huge advantage," said the Castrol FPR driver.

"For me these races with soft and hard tyres are all about total race time. If we can maximise that we'll come out with the best result. If you get caught up scrapping you'll only slow yourself down and the guys on softs will only get past you anyway."

FPR will be back on track for qualifying at 10:15am.

Norton 360 Sandown Challenge - V8 SUPERCARS
SANDOWN INTERNATIONAL MOTOR RACEWAY
Race 13 Qualifying
1. Will Davison, HRT, 1:09.7185*
2. Jamie Whincup, 888, +0.3900
3. Steven Johnson, DJR, +0.5807
4. James Courtney, DJR, +0.5855
5. Fabian Coulthard, PCR, +0.5953
6. Craig Lowndes, 888, +0.5996

11. M. Winterbottom, Orrcon Steel FPR Falcon, 1:10.0382
13. Steve Richards, Castrol FPR Falcon, 1:10.0499

Norton 360 Sandown Challenge - V8 SUPERCARS
SANDOWN INTERNATIONAL MOTOR RACEWAY
Race 13
1. Will Davison, HRT
2. James Courtney, DJR
3. Craig Lowndes, 888
4. Todd Kelly, Kelly Racing
5. Michael Caruso, GRM
6. Jamie Whincup, 888

12 Mark Winterbottom, Orrcon Steel FPR Falcon
14. Steve Richards, Castrol FPR Falcon