Photo: JBR

JBR looking for a result at Barbagallo

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Jim Beam Racing arrives in Western Australia this week ahead of round four of the V8 Supercar Championship at Barbagallo Raceway fully focussed on returning to the form which took Will Davison to victory at Eastern Creek.
The Perth circuit holds good memories for Steve Johnson and Will Davison, both finished inside the top five last year and are keen to show some of the same consistency this year at a track that seems to suit the Jim Beam Falcon.

“The Jim Beam Racing Falcon tends to handle the Barbagallo circuit quite well; it’s a unique track that tends to get slippery as the race goes on with sand on the side of the circuit getting onto the track,” explained Davison.

“Grip and power down are very important at Barbagallo, and it’s a track you need to be really smooth at and keep the rear nice and stable, as well as looking after your rear tyres.

Davison has fond memories of Barbagallo having clean swept a round back in 2001 as a Formula Ford youngster; ironically in that same year it was a Dick Johnson Racing Falcon that won all three races of the V8 Supercar Championship.

“I’ve had some great success at Barbagallo in the past and so has DJR.

“Back in 2001 I won the Formula Ford round and vividly remember standing on the hill watching Paul Radisich smoke the field for Dick Johnson Racing to win the V8 Supercar round so we have some great memories at the track,” said Davison.

Team mate Steve Johnson is also looking forward to getting on track this weekend, and although the team has had some success in the past, Johnson is well aware the hard work is all ahead of the team come qualifying on Saturday.

“We really need to have a solid result over all three races this weekend, and to do that we need to put some times down early in qualifying,” Said Johnson.

“The main priority will be to ensure we are well inside the top ten during qualifying as Barbagallo can tend to be a track where the sessions can be red flagged quite regularly with cars getting caught in the sand.

“It’s going to be imperative to put some decent times down early on and have a good base to build on from the outset,” said Johnson.

The Jim Beam Racing Falcons hit the track on Friday for practice, ahead of three 50 lap races over the course of the weekend.