IRWIN Racing’s Lee Holdsworth and Craig Baird will be out to repeat history for the Stone Brothers Racing team in this Sunday’s Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000.
In 1998 Jason Bright and Steven Richards qualified 15th, that is the same spot the team will go from this year following this afternoon’s qualifying session.
Holdsworth was unable to get the most out of the IRWIN Racing Ford during the 40 minute session, and although not fast for a one-lap qualifying special, the balance of the IRWIN Ford is good in race trim and both drivers are confident of moving forward in the 161-lap ‘Great Race’ on Sunday.
Tomorrow the IRWIN Racing crew will fine tune the car during the final 50-minute practice and not have to worry about the shootout in the afternoon.
What the drivers had to say:
Lee Holdsworth – IRWIN Racing
“It’s not the end of the world as we have a long 1000km of racing ahead of us on Sunday and we will move our way up,” said Holdsworth.
“I really wanted to be in the shootout again and this is one of the only years I have missed it.
“We can now put 100% into tomorrow’s final 50 minute practice and really tune the car up for Sunday and not be distracted with the shootout. We do have a good car over a distance and I’m sure the track will come to us on Sunday.
Craig Baird – IRWIN Racing
“We did a lot of changes that was to give Lee a direction for the other practice session and into qualifying,” said Baird.
“I was happy in the car, especially on old tyres and high fuel load to be setting times in the 2.09s. That was the first time all weekend that I really felt happy in the car. So we are heading in the right direction with the car and I expect it to be a very good race car for Sunday.”
V8 SUPERCARS – Qualifying
1. #1 TeamVodafone Jamie Whincup 2:07.7145
2. #14 Lockwood Racing Fabian Coulthard +0.0786
3. #5 Orrcon Steel FPR Ford Mark Winterbottom +0.2086
4. #6 Trading Post FPR Ford Will Davison +0.2151
5. #888 TeamVodafone Craig Lowndes +0.2518
6. #9 SP Tools Racing Shane Van Gisbergen +0.3654
7. #47 Lucky 7 Racing Tim Slade +0.3767
8. #2 Holden Racing Team Garth Tander +0.3900
9. #49 VIP Petfoods Steve Owen +0.4241
10. $52 The Bottle-O Racing Team David Reynolds +0.5167
15. #4 Irwin Racing Lee Holdsworth +0.8234
V8 SUPERCARS – Practice 5
1. #1 TeamVodafone Jamie Whincup 2:07.5000*
2. #888 TeamVodafone Craig Lowndes +0.5785
3. #6 Trading Post FPR Ford Will Davison +0.7265
4. #49 VIP Petfoods Steve Owen +0.7345
5. #22 Holden Racing Team James Courtney +0.7429
6. #14 Lockwood Racing Fabian Coulthard +0.7669
7. #34 Fujitsu Racing GRM Michael Caruso +0.7693
8. #5 Orrcon Steel FPR Ford Mark Winterbottom +0.8652
9. #8 Team BOC Jason Bright +0.8663
10. #9 SP Tools Racing Shane Van Gisbergen +0.9066
11. #4 Irwin Racing Lee Holdsworth +0.9115
V8 SUPERCARS – Practice 4
1. #19 Tekno Autosports Scott McLaughlin 2:08.9697*
2. #1 TeamVodafone Paul Dumbrell +0.1470
3. #6 Trading Post FPR Ford John McIntyre +0.2260
4. #5 Orrcon Steel FPR Ford Steven Richards +0.2514
5. #34 Fujitsu Racing GRM Greg Ritter +0.3089
6. #22 Holden Racing Team Cameron McConville +0.4255
7. #14 Lockwood Racing David Besnard +0.5484
8. #52 The Bottle-O Racing Team Dean Canto +0.6129
9. #2 Holden Racing Team Nick Percat +0.6191
10. #8 Team BOC Andrew Jones +0.6414
14. #4 Irwin Racing Craig Baird +0.8980
