By Matthew AgiusPaul Morris and Shane Price have each set practice times in the lower fifty percent of the timesheets today and will be part of the first bracket of cars to qualify for the Phillip Island Grand Finale tomorrow.
Morris struggled to set a solid time in the Team Sirromet Wines Commodore, battling understeer on the Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit where handling is a premium.
“Today the car had high-speed understeer on the fast, sweeping turns onto the main straight and past the 'Hayshed'. We made all the usual set-up changes to improve the car, but didn't make a lot of progress,” said Morris.
“Tomorrow we will try some more things in qualifying and hopefully the car will be better for the first race. Last year my race pace here was more competitive compared to qualifying because the car looked after its rear tyres.
“This track is hard on the right rear tyre. If we find a good set-up with the car and the tyres last the distance I think we are capable of some good results this weekend.”
Shane Price is running in the second Team Sirromet Wines Commodore as a part of the Holden Young Lions development program. The championship contender for the Fujitsu V8 Supercar Series did not manage to run well in the session however, setting the twenty-eighth fastest time.
“I should have done a better (lap) time, but I out-braked myself at the hairpin and went off,” said Price.
“I had just done my quickest lap on good tyres, and I was on a better lap when it happened. It put dirt on the tyres so I never had another shot at it. Today we tried to make the car comfortable to drive and the set-up is pretty close to how we want it.
“I'm still building up speed in some of the big corners here – like Turn One and Turn Two, and leading up to Lukey Heights. I'm learning how far I can push it without overdoing it. The aim in qualifying tomorrow is to move up a few places and then do a good job in the first race.”
Qualifying, the top ten shootout and the opening race will take place at the Phillip Island circuit tomorrow.
