Pole perfect for PremiAir
The PremiAir Nulon Racing garage is on a high and daring to dream after James Golding took a memorable maiden pole in Darwin.
In a Top 10 Shootout where drivers struggled to come to grips with slippery track conditions, Golding nailed his lap to produce a 1:06.2302, which edged out Broc Feeney by 0.0789s.
It only re enforces the team’s success after the #31 also topped Friday’s provisional qualifying session.
Two and a half years and 72 races since purchasing a struggling Team Sydney and starting a new squad, Peter Xiberras’ team is finally starting from P1, having had to battle every step of the way.
PremiAir’s pedigree and potential have been clear since its very first season, especially when Golding replaced Garry Jacobson and punched above his weight.
In the Gen3 era PremiAir has come close with a handful of top five finishes, but thanks to Golding’s brilliance it enjoys its first pole and front row start at Hidden Valley.
Now they can dream of chasing a maiden victory like Team 18 and Matt Stone Racing did in last year’s Indigenous Round.
A maiden pole instantly became the top career highlight for Golding, who said being part of the team’s journey made it all the more special.
“It is just incredible because of where we have come from,” Golding told AUTO ACTION’s Andrew Clarke in the lane.
“Being a new team working our way up to the top makes it even more special.
“We have had speed at numerous points and been on the verge of podiums but first pole position is a pretty incredible feeling.
“To get that one lap right and the car is in a pretty good window to be able to execute so thanks to all the boys for giving me a good car.”
After topping Qualifying, Golding focused on race pace in Practice 2 where he finished 19th, but knows a steeper task lies ahead across 48 laps if he can convert pole into a dream win.
“We have a big job this afternoon. The race will be a totally different challenge but we have done all our prep and the car is speedy so we just have to execute now,” he said.
“We just focused on the race car and improved it over the session.
“At the end our tyres were pretty gone but I am not too worried about it.
“Up the front and should have some clean air so I will try and use it.”
The man who has led PremiAir from the front since day one is Xiberras, who was so emotional he struggled to describe his emotions.
“You dream of these days don’t you,” he said as Golding pulled into the garage.
“I am a little bit speechless.
“Yesterday did so much for this team and this has just added to it.
“You are only as good as your last session so I did not want the crew to think we have made it because this is such a tough category and sport.
“This puts belief in the team.
“It is alright for me to say we have as good of gear, engineers and drivers but you still have to put it together.”
PremiAir and Golding will now dream of chasing a famous victory from pole at 15.10 ACST.
Darwin Triple Crown (ACST)
Friday, June 14
Practice 1: 1: W. Brown 1:06.4153 2: J. Golding +0.0156 3: J. Le Brocq +0.0518
Qualifying: 1: J. Golding 1:05.6912 2: N. Percat +0.0742 3: M. Winterbottom +0.1515
Saturday, June 15
Practice 2: 1: W. Brown 1:06.2120 2: B. Feeney +0.3002 3: C. Waters +0.4181
11.35 Top 10 Shootout
15.10 Race 11 (48 laps)
Sunday, June 16
10.25 Qualifying
11.35 Top 10 Shootout
15.10 Race 12 (48 laps)
READ THE LATEST ISSUE OF AUTO ACTION DIGITAL HERE
Don’t forget the print edition of Auto Action available via subscription here. For more of the latest motorsport news, subscribe to AUTO ACTION magazine.
Podcast: SVG goes back to back
Shane van Gisbergen has gone back-to-back with a win in Sonoma, while his antipodean mates – Will Brown and Cam Waters – had mixed debuts in the NASCAR Cup Series… but both showed enough to stay on the radar or the US teams looking for the next Giz?
Plus, we’ve got all the latest news on Supercars, F1, IndyCar, and whatever else came to our minds at the time. We also look at the Darwin Supercars and the hypercars at Le Mans for the 24-hour race.
Listen to our latest episode on your podcast app of choice or here
