Photo: FPR Media

Pre-season test sees Will Davison top the timesheet

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Will Davison topped the timesheet at the pre-season test for the 2012 V8 Supercars Championship at Sandown Raceway. The Ford Performance Racing driver set a time of 1m 09.3230s, a new touring car lap record for the circuit.

Team Vodafone’s Craig Lowndes was second on the timesheet with Lee Holdsworth third in his first outing for Stone Brothers Racing. Fourth was Kelly Racing’s Todd Kelly with Jonathon Webb finishing fifth for Tekno Autosports. They were followed by Garth Tander (Holden Racing Team), David Reynolds (Ford Performance Racing), Tim Slade (Stone Brothers Racing), Mark Winterbottom (Ford Performance Racing) and Steve Owen (Dick Johnson Racing).

A number of the endurance drivers were also in attendance at the pre-season test, gaining experience at the track they will be racing at in September for the Sandown 500. Drivers in attendance included Ford Performance Racing co-drivers John Macintyre, Steve Richards and Dean Canto, Warren Luff and Paul Dumbrell for Team Vodafone and for the Holden Racing Team, Nick Percat and Cameron McConville.

Each of the V8 Supercar teams had both soft and hard compound tyres on hand at the test, allowing them to run different programs. Rain interrupted the proceedings and saw the day’s running extended by thirty minutes to compensate for lost running time.

Timesheet topper Will Davison had the following to say at the end of the day:
“It was good to dust the cobwebs off and finish the day on such a good note. Rain meant we were hampered early but we got through most things. As it was a test day we had to just focus on what we were doing as everyone was doing different things. I was obviously very happy with the car no matter what tyres we were on and I had a crack at the end and set a great lap time which was encouraging. It is always nice to finish the first day of the year in P1 and while we thought we would be close to the fastest it is nice to know that we actually are”

The V8 Supercars will be back on track for the opening round of the 2012 Championship, the Clipsal 500, to be held on the streets of Adelaide on March 1-4.