Friday, 11 October 2013

HRT Makes Major Gains in Bathurst Qualifying

The Holden Racing Team has made dramatic improvements to its two VF Commodores in today’s qualifying session for the 2013 Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000, 2010 V8 Supercars Champion James Courtney scoring a prized Top 10 Shootout berth.

Courtney’s #22 HRT Commodore was consistently quick throughout the 40 minute session and vaulted up the order at the very end, finishing in fourth position.

“I’m pumped to be in the Shootout again, it’s always fantastic to have Mount Panorama all to yourself for one lap,” Courtney said.

“We’ve worked really hard to tune the cars and make them comfortable, and the work is starting to pay off.”

Courtney also said his co-driver, four-time Bathurst winner Greg Murphy, felt the same way.

“Murphy’s feedback has been very similar to mine all weekend and he’s feeling much more confident as well,” Courtney said.

In the #2 HRT entry, Garth Tander missed out on a place in the shootout by just 0.04 of a second and he and co-driver Nick Percat were also pleased with the team’s progress since Thursday practice.

The two HRT VF Commodores will complete a 50-minute practice session at 11:05 tomorrow morning; the Top 10 Shootout will be held at 5:00pm.