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Coulthard Quickest on New Tyres

12 Apr 2013
Every driver ran on new hard tyres in this morning's first practice session at ITM 400 Auckland, and in-form racer Fabian Coulthard topped the times.
2 mins by James Pavey
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Every driver ran on new hard tyres in thismorning’s first practice session at ITM 400 Auckland, and in-form racer FabianCoulthard topped the times.

While Coulthard seemed reasonably happywith the #14 Lockwood Racing Holden Commodore, he said the team will makeadjustments prior to the three afternoon sessions.

“(The car’s) alright – we need to make it alittle bit nicer to ride the bumps – but so far, so good,” Coulthard said.

“We rolled out the car and it’s fast – it's always a worry, you go from one round to the next and you don’t know if thecar is going to perform as well as it should – but to roll the car out andgo quickest in the first session in front of a home crowd is a pretty goodfeeling.”

The only current Kiwi racer to have driven a V8 Supercar around Pukekohe before, Coulthard described the new segment ofthe track as “different”.

“Obviously it’s got no grip on it becausethere’s no rubber on it yet, so I’m sure as the weekend progresses it will getbetter and better.

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“We’re top of the time sheets after the firstone, but come more and more sessions everyone will work out what the brakingpoint is, and what they can get away with and what they can’t.

“Tomorrow’s the day – it’s a good start butnot we’re not getting the hopes up just yet.

“On a Friday we’ll always make someadjustments (to the car) – sometimes you make it better, sometimes you make it worse– but as long as the car is 100 per cent by qualifying, and hopefully we’reat the front.”

Coulthard and teammate Jason Brightdominated the last event in Tasmania last weekend, winning all three races between them. 

Coulthard has two championship race wins under his belt so far and currently sits seventh in thechampionship.

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