GARRY’S QUEENSLAND RACEWAY SUPERCARS SUPPORT WRAP – FRIDAY

Jack Smith set the pace in the V8 Touring Cars at Queensland Raceway – Photo: Dirk Klynsmith

THE OPENING practice outing for the fourth round of V8 Touring Car Series at Queensland Raceway’s Coates Hire Ipswich Supersprint was interrupted by two red flag situations with both cause when Nandi Kiss parked his ex-PMM Holden Commodore VE in the sand at turn one.

By the end of the session, series leader Jack Smith (BJR Commodore) headed the time sheets, lapping faster than the qualifying times of last year. He finished ahead of Anton DePasqualie (PMM Ford Falcon FG) with Tyler Greenbury (Eggleston Motorsport ex-Triple 8 Commodore) third.

Smith went even quicker in session two, banking a 1 minute 11.22 second while DePasqualie’s first session effort kept him in good stead for second overall ahead of Greenbury.

Jordan Boys (Image Racing ex-SBR Falcon) was next quickest ahead of Michael Anderson (ex-FPR Falcon), Thomas Randle (in Rusty French’s ex-Triple 8 Falcon), Josh Smith (Image Racing ex-SBR Falcon) and Aaron Seton in Rod Dawson’s Falcon.

The second session had a red flag out when Kiss went off at turn 3 and practice was curtailed slightly when Brad Neill put his Commodore VS off at turn 2.

Steve Johnson lead John Bowe in TCM practice – Photo: Dirk Klynsmith

TOURING CAR Masters had just the one session of practice today where Steve Johnson and John Bowe, friends and foes, were only separated by 0.02 seconds in their respective Ford Mustang and Holden Torana SL/R 5000.

Third fastest was Eddie Abelnica (Ford Falcon XB Coupe) ahead of Tony Karanfilovski (Mustang), series overall leader Adam Bressington (Chev Camaro), Jason Gomersall (Torana A9X), Bruce Williams (SL/R 5000), Leo Tobin (Mustang) and tenth fastest Mark King (Holden Monaro GTS 350).

Darren Beale had a harmless off at turn five and another at the end of the session, at turn 6, backing his Monaro into the tyre barrier. Shannon O’Brien was also stopped out of turn 4 as the session concluded, his Camaro suffering a failed alternator and flat battery. Ryan Hansford (SL/R 5000) was an early casualty with a broken diff housing.

Nick Rowe qualified fastest in Formula 4 – Photo: Dirk Klynsmith

IT WAS a busy day for the youngsters in the CAMS Jayco Australian Formula 4 Championship with two morning practice sessions ahead of qualifying later in the afternoon.

It was an AGI Sport lockout of the top three spots after the two initial sessions with Zak Best ahead of Nick Rowe and Sage Murdock. Zagame’s Tyler Everingham and Ryan Suhle were next had of New Zealand hotshot Liam Lawson in the leading Team BRM Mygale.

Best whose previous best result was a fourth in race two at round one (Sandown) couldn’t repeat the dose in qualifying, finishing sixth as series leader (by a point) Rowe took pole position ahead of Shields while Murdoch and will start race one on the second row with Lawson alongside.

Rowe’s fastest lap was a 1min 12.58s effort, 0.22s faster than his nearest rival. Just 1.4s covers the 12 cars competing this weekend in round five.

David Sieders set the pace in his V8 Utes return – Photo: Rhys Vandersyde

RETURNING TO V8 Utes for the first time since winning the series last year, David Sieders (Holden Commodore) was the quickest overall after the two practice sessions in the lead-up to round three where a season best of 18 are expected to partake.

He showed the way to Peters Motorsport team mates Mason Barbera and Ryal Harris in their Ford Falcons while fourth fastest was Craig Woods (Falcon) ahead of Marcus Zukanovic (Falcon). Next were the Holdens piloted by points leader Kim Jane and Blake Sciberras.

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