kabel
11th October 2008, 03:48 AM
Teams burn midnight oil
Release date: 11/10/2008
http://v8supercar.bigpond.com/content/images/hero_news_folders/october_08/88_fixed/files/18198/88-Fixed.jpg
TeamVodafone and Team Kiwi Racing spent last night repairing cars damaged in yesterday's practice and qualifying for the Bathurst 1000.
TeamVodafone import Fabrizio Giovanardi - the reigning British Touring Car Champion - hit the wall at Mount Panorama's notorious Esses during qualifying.
The Triple Eight Racing crew finished repairing the car at midnight. The team had to replace the Watt's linkage, the rear axle and the front suspension of the #88 Falcon.
The team was always planning to change the complete driveline after qualifying anyway as a part of its normal race preparation, and it also fitted a new engine.
The crew was originally scheduled to finish as 10:00pm, so the accident only cost the team two extra hours.
Fabrizio indicated that the incident was just a part of the tough learning curve new drivers at Mount Panorama must endure.
“I had a moment with the wall. I was trying to make the best in qualifying to try to stay in the first 20. Obviously I am not totally in control of the track and the car yet; it was just a stupid mistake. I had too much car on the kerb and I lost control of the rear and at this place (the walls) are very close,” he explained.
“It's a very difficult circuit. If I could drive my normal (BTCC Vauxhall) race car, it would be okay because I could just concentrate on learning the circuit. But I have to learn the car and the circuit; it is hard because you don't want to make a mistake like I did.”
Fabrizio said he was looking forward to getting back into the car for another practice session today.
“I have to get back into the car to understand why I made the mistake and then try to do my best for the race,” he said.
However, he said he is really enjoying competing at the Mountain.
“This is a great circuit. It's good fun for the people who come. I have never seen so many people come to watch on days before the actual race,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Team Kiwi Racing crew worked around the clock to get its Falcon repaired in time for Sunday's race after Chris Pither was involved in a huge crash with Paul Weel in yesterday's practice.
“We made good progress last night and we are pretty confident that we will be on the back of the grid on Sunday,” Team Manager, Michael Calvert, told BigPond Sport.
“We worked on it all night with the guys getting four or five hours sleep in shifts. The guys will be sleeping during the day when they can.
“The TAFE boys have straightened the chassis out and attached the rails that they needed to.
“The car will be back in the garage about two or three o'clock this afternoon for re-assembly.”
Calvert estimated that the repair job has cost the team around $75,000 (including the new engine).
Team Kiwi has been given approval from the event stewards to start the race from the rear of the grid if its repaired Falcon passes scrutineering.
“We are still allowed to enter; we have permission from the stewards to enter based on Chris's and Kayne's (Scott) times in the practice; they were both well within the 107 per cent rule for Bathurst,” he said.
Author:Allan Edwards
Source:BigPond Sport - copyright
Release date: 11/10/2008
http://v8supercar.bigpond.com/content/images/hero_news_folders/october_08/88_fixed/files/18198/88-Fixed.jpg
TeamVodafone and Team Kiwi Racing spent last night repairing cars damaged in yesterday's practice and qualifying for the Bathurst 1000.
TeamVodafone import Fabrizio Giovanardi - the reigning British Touring Car Champion - hit the wall at Mount Panorama's notorious Esses during qualifying.
The Triple Eight Racing crew finished repairing the car at midnight. The team had to replace the Watt's linkage, the rear axle and the front suspension of the #88 Falcon.
The team was always planning to change the complete driveline after qualifying anyway as a part of its normal race preparation, and it also fitted a new engine.
The crew was originally scheduled to finish as 10:00pm, so the accident only cost the team two extra hours.
Fabrizio indicated that the incident was just a part of the tough learning curve new drivers at Mount Panorama must endure.
“I had a moment with the wall. I was trying to make the best in qualifying to try to stay in the first 20. Obviously I am not totally in control of the track and the car yet; it was just a stupid mistake. I had too much car on the kerb and I lost control of the rear and at this place (the walls) are very close,” he explained.
“It's a very difficult circuit. If I could drive my normal (BTCC Vauxhall) race car, it would be okay because I could just concentrate on learning the circuit. But I have to learn the car and the circuit; it is hard because you don't want to make a mistake like I did.”
Fabrizio said he was looking forward to getting back into the car for another practice session today.
“I have to get back into the car to understand why I made the mistake and then try to do my best for the race,” he said.
However, he said he is really enjoying competing at the Mountain.
“This is a great circuit. It's good fun for the people who come. I have never seen so many people come to watch on days before the actual race,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Team Kiwi Racing crew worked around the clock to get its Falcon repaired in time for Sunday's race after Chris Pither was involved in a huge crash with Paul Weel in yesterday's practice.
“We made good progress last night and we are pretty confident that we will be on the back of the grid on Sunday,” Team Manager, Michael Calvert, told BigPond Sport.
“We worked on it all night with the guys getting four or five hours sleep in shifts. The guys will be sleeping during the day when they can.
“The TAFE boys have straightened the chassis out and attached the rails that they needed to.
“The car will be back in the garage about two or three o'clock this afternoon for re-assembly.”
Calvert estimated that the repair job has cost the team around $75,000 (including the new engine).
Team Kiwi has been given approval from the event stewards to start the race from the rear of the grid if its repaired Falcon passes scrutineering.
“We are still allowed to enter; we have permission from the stewards to enter based on Chris's and Kayne's (Scott) times in the practice; they were both well within the 107 per cent rule for Bathurst,” he said.
Author:Allan Edwards
Source:BigPond Sport - copyright