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Ferrari and D’Alberto fly around the Island

By Thomas Miles

Date posted: April 13, 2024

The Ferraris are flying, while Tony D’Alberto also sent a statement by showing strong one-lap speed in qualifying as the SpeedSeries action heats up at Phillip Island.

New Ferrari squad Arise Racing cleaned up both GT World Challenge qualifying sessions on Saturday morning with the #1 of Chaz Mostert and Liam Talbot.

However, despite Mostert beating the likes of Brenton Grove, Jayden Ojeda and Will Brown by less than half a second, the #1 296 will not be taking pole position for today’s opening race.

Mostert received a 5 spot penalty for speeding in the pit lane during the session, setting up an all Mercedes front row for the opening race at 13.00 AEST.

However, the #1 will certainly be in P1 on Sunday after Talbot dominated the second segment.

The Grove Mercedes smashes through some polystyrene at Phillip Island. Image:Rebecca Hind Revved Photography

The reigning champion’s 1:25.8109 was eight tenths clear of his nearest competitor which happened to be Arise Racing teammate Elliott Schutte despite the latter getting stuck in the sand on the exit of the final corner.

Next best behind the Ferraris is Brad Schumacher who leads a train of Audis also containing Paul Stokell and Tim Miles.

In TCR, D’Alberto made his intensions clear by taking pole position at Phillip Island.

Just two days after losing his Race Tasmania appeal, the Wall Racing driver produced a 1:35.2163 to take fastest time honours.

It was a Honda Civic 1-2 with Brad Harris firing in an impressive lap to be second, four tenths off the pace.

He just held out reigning champion Josh Buchan, while Dylan O’Keeffe put the Lynk & Co in fourth as Clay Richards rounded out the top five.

TCRs go racing at 15.15 AEST.

Fittingly for the SpeedSeries event backed by the Ford Mustang, that same car cleaned up qualifying.

James Golding led an all Ford top five with a 1:31.3807 to keep up his momentum from Symmons Plains.

James Moffat had to settle for second three tenths away ahead of Jordan Boys and Elliott Cleary. The top non Ford was Elliot Barbour in his Camaro in sixth.

Trans Am goes racing at 14.10 AEST.

Image: Rebecca Hind Revved Photography

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