EGGLESTON MERCEDES ON POLE FOR AUSTRALIAN ENDURANCE CHAMPIONSHIP OPENER
Storey/Hackett Eggleston Mercedes AMG GT3 will start from pole – Photo: Dirk Klynsmith
AFTER SEPARATE qualifying sessions for driver one and drive two, Dominic Storey and Peter Hackett finished with the best overall aggregate and will start from pole position in round one of the CAMS Australian Endurance Championship tomorrow.
Sharing the Eggleston Motorsport Mercedes AMG GT3, Storey was fourth in his session while Hackett topped the second qualifying outing at Phillip Island today.
The combination finished last year’s Phillip Island 101 in second place and are the only team presently not using the newly-regulated tyre warmers.
“If we can find 20 grand overnight we will use them,” quipped Hackett who added that they would feel the pinch should the race go green all the way.
“The whole race will revolve around safety cars . . . and the weather,” he added.
Talbot/Martin Walkinshaw Porsche 911 GT3-R completes the front row – Photo: Dirk Klynsmith
Joining them on the front row for Sunday’s 113-lap 500km race will be the Walkinshaw MEGA Racing Porsche 911 GT3-R with Liam Talbot and John Martin sharing the driving duties.
On the second row will be Geoff Emery and Garth Tander in the leading Valvoline Jamec Pem Racing Audi R8 LMS with Roger Lago and David Russell alongside in their JBS Australia Lamborghini R-EX GT3.
On row three are Max Twigg/Tony D’Alberto (Mercedes) and Tim Miles/Jaxon Evans (Audi) in front of Ash Samadi/Chris Pither (Audi), Steve Richards/James Bergmuller (BMW M6), Glen Wood/Peter Major (Lamborghini) and Peter Edwards and Greame Smyth (Ferrari 488) out of tenth.
Fastest driver in the first qualifier was Russell with a 1 minute 26.949 second flyer ahead of Smyth and Evans before Hackett was quickest in the next. Second there was Talbot ahead of Emery and Major.
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