V8 Supercar session one wrap

Release date: 22/02/2008 The V8 Supercar Championship Series has officially got underway with the completion of the first practice session of the 2008 season.

The top three competitors were separated by only five thousandths of a second with TeamVodafone’s Jamie Whincup, the 2006 Clipsal round winner, topping the time sheets with a 1:22.0636. The Toll Holden Racing Team’s Mark Skaife, who has chosen to continue using the H-pattern gearbox this weekend rather the new sequential option, was the fastest Holden home in second just 0.46sec behind, with Ford Performance Racing’s Mark Winterbottom rounding out the top three.

Fourth fastest was Jim Beam Racing’s Steven Johnson, followed by Jeld-Wen Motorsport’s James Courtney and driving the new #1 VE Commodore was reigning series champion Garth Tander, second home for Team Red only 0.3sec behind his teammate Skaife, crossing the chequered flag back in sixth.

Toll HRT’s sister outfit, the HSV Dealer Team also featured in the top 10 with both drivers Paul Dumbrell – in new Autobarn livery – and Rick Kelly clocking the ninth and 10th fastest times.

A point of contention for numerous drivers was the bumpy braking area into the right-hand turn four, with drivers such as FPR’s Steven Richards, Team BOC’s Andrew Jones, Dumbrell and Skaife all testing their Supercars to the limit by overshooting the turn and pulling off into the escape road.

Tasman Motorsport’s Jason Richards temporarily halted the session due to front right tyre and suspension damage sustained near turn 11. The Sprint Gas #3 Commodore was returned to the paddock on the back of a tilt truck, but after minor changes returned to the practice session with Richards clocking his fastest time of the session to finish 19th on his final lap.

Other notable standouts were Fujitsu Racing’s Jason Bright in 11th, missing out on the top 10 berth by 0.11sec, while Cameron McConville made his Brad Jones Racing debut in the new WOW-sponsored Commodore to finish 12th fastest.

Practice One – Top 10

1 Jamie Whincup - 1:22.0636
2 Mark Skaife - 1:22.0682
3 Mark Winterbottom - 1:22.0687
4 Steven Johnson - 1:22.2021
5 James Courtney - 1:22.2056
6 Garth Tander - 1:22.3899
7 Lee Holdsworth - 1:22.4377
8 Steven Richards - 1:22.4679
9 Paul Dumbrell - 1:22.6463
10 Rick Kelly - 1:22.6630