It was the first hit out for co-drivers in this morning’s Practice Zero at the Sucrogen Townsville 400. The first was a dedicated session for co-drivers, and 19 were present to drive the cars.
The only teams left to announce co-drivers are Walkinshaw Racing – one Holden Racing Team, one Supercheap Auto Racing – Lucas Dumbrell Motorsport and Brad Jones Racing, despite entering Chris Pither in the #21 Wilson Security Holden Commodore for today.
Former V8 Supercars driver Steven Richards was quickest in the session, with a 1min15.1859. Richards is set to partner Mark Winterbottom once again in the #5 Pepsi Max Crew Ford Performance Racing Falcon.
While not many enduro drivers have tested the new-for-2013 Car of the Future V8 Supercars, Richards and the other three FPR co-drivers had that chance recently at Winton Raceway.
And while all four drivers have been confirmed, the only two running this weekend are here because of commitments with other series.
Richards is juggling his co-driver responsibilities with Carrera Cup, in which he’s currently placed fourth. The top three in that category – Craig Baird, Warren Luff and Nick Percat – are also running as co-drivers, with Luff and Percat second and third fastest this session in Red Bull Racing Australia #1 and Team HIFLEX #3.
Fastest in a Nissan was Taz Douglas, sixth in #36; and quickest Erebus Motorsport V8 was Baird in 17th, in #4.
Richards said he felt familiar in the car and it was easy going from his Porsche to the Falcon.
“Funnily enough, one lap in the car and I think your mind has a memory for what car you’re in and what snapshot that looks like,” he said.
“So when you get into one from the other, it doesn’t feel too bad.
“It takes two or three laps to get your ultimate line, where you brake and where gear changes are.”
He said it made a big difference being able to talk with driver Winterbottom about improving the CotF.
“I’ll be honest – (CotF’s) a little bit different ergonomically, but to drive it isn’t a totally new thing, it feels pretty similar.
“I competed here (Towsville Reid Park circuit) the first two years, so I know the track and I know where I should be braking, where the cars should be doing certain things.”
Co-drivers are allowed to run in P1 and P2 today and there will be dedicated co-driver sessions at the Coates Hire Ipswich 360 and Winton 360 in the lead-up to the endurance races.
Click here for full session times from P0. As Greg Murphy is cross entered in #2 and #22, his name appears twice in the results.
