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BOYS IMPRESSING AT BATHURST

By Auto Action

Macauley Jones and Jordan Boys may not spring to mind as a top contender for the 2022 Bathurst 1000, but the #96 has already exceeded expectations and could be in a good spot to capitalise if opportunities present this weekend.

Jones has been quietly building up to Bathurst, currently on track for a career-best championship finish after a series of promising top 15 results in recent rounds.

For The Great Race, Jones Junior has joined forces with Jordan Boys, who has made a comeback to Mount Panorama after missing out on a drive last year.

Despite the break, Boys has bounced back in a big way in his first Supercars session on the Mountain this weekend.

Driving a car which has rarely been inside the top 10, Boys blasted the #96 up to P4 in the second Thursday practice session.

The Albury born driver instantly felt at home in the Albury based car and gradually built up to record a 2:04.69, a time which would have put him inside the top five in any of three competitive practice sessions all weekend.

Boys, like many of the other drivers, were stunned to receive so much grip from the green track, which allowed the #96 driver to go faster than he thought he could. Speaking to AUTO ACTION in the BJR pits, Boys said he was blown with the car’s pace.

“I did my first flying lap and it was a (two minute) seven flat, and as soon as that happened I knew the track was pretty quick,” he said.

“My goal was to try and get into some (two minute) five’s, so obviously doing a (two minute) four was surreal.

“I could really flow a lot of speed into the corner and then the last sector is crazy fast, so it is not consistent, but more grip is always better.”

Boys said this kind of car pace has filled him with masses of confidence for the remainder of the weekend.

“It is really exciting because I feel like the car is really strong, and whenever the car rolls out of the garage it is fast,” he said.

“We have not had to change much at all, we are always tweaking, but have still got the same springs in the car which is giving everyone lots of confidence and encouragement.”

While the #96 Holden ZB Commodore has looked fast in the dry, the major sessions of the weekend are forecast to be held in the wet.

Best is hopeful the car pace can translate across the varied conditions, while his Image Racing wildcard experience at The Bend Supersprint driving through torrential rain could come to good use.

“A bit of variety never hurts, but there will be a lot more risk in the wet, so we are probably hoping for a dry race,” he said.

“But that could be wishful thinking and normally when you have a good car in the dry, it is a good car in the wet as well. As long as we can get our tyre pressures right we should be pretty good.

“Here is a pretty similar surface (to the Bend) being quite smooth with the water sort of sitting on top of it.

“I learnt a lot from the Bend like tyre setups and learning how to brake in the wet.

“I was happy with my speed, and it was a good experience, but hopefully I do not have to use it.”

Boys will hand over the keys to Jones for this afternoon’s qualifying session, where the pair hopes to make the top 10 shootout, but the Albury youngster will be out to make another statement on Sunday.

Friday

Practice 4 (all drivers) 13:00-14:00pm

Qualifying 16:15-16:55pm

Saturday

Practice 5 (co-drivers only) 10:20-11:20am

Practice 6 (all drivers) 13:00-14:00pm

Top Ten Shootout 17:05-17:50pm

Sunday

Warm up 8:00-8:20am

Race 30 (161 laps) 11:15am

AUTO ACTION, Reporting live from The Mountain

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