Teams gear up for Bathurst qualifying

Teams are preparing for qualifying this afternoon, with some who experienced problems during practice confident of being ready for the 40-minute session at the Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000.

Lucas Dumbrell Motorsport’s Nick Percat found the wall at the top of the Mountain, but team boss Lucas Dumbrell was confident his Holden Commodore would be ready for this afternoon’s important session.

The Commodore carries a special South Australia livery this weekend, with Adelaide-born Percat fifth in yesterday’s first practice session but 20th after his incident earlier today. He pairs with former full-timer Cameron McConville.

Dumbrell said changes to the car were just precautionary, and expected them to be in the mid-fives (2min05 bracket). Mark Winterbottom predicted pole would be in the fours, which would most likely mean a new practice/qualifying lap record.

“It was fine, it was honestly pretty minimal damage if any. It’s more a precautionary change of suspension components,” Dumbrell told supercars.com.

“We pulled them off and had a look at them and while there are slight little dings in them … I think it was a hit big enough to maybe create an impact but not do any damage.

“They changed a couple of suspension arms and toe links, but it’s good to go.

“There was a bit of a scratch on the panel work but the damage is pretty minimal, the cars are pretty strong these days.

“He hit it at the right angle and didn’t do too much damage.”

He says the team has been able to make gains since rolling out yesterday.

“They (drivers) are pretty happy, they will be looking for the green tyre gain that everyone battles against. I think Nick is pretty happy with the car and Cam is pretty happy.

“Hopefully we will do a mid-five in qualifying, Nick thinks that is what it is capable of.”

An issue with a loose front wheel has been resolved for James Moffat, who has had a tough run with co-driver James Golding crashing ‘under the tree’ yesterday in his co-driver session.

Moffat finished 25th in the last practice session.

Preston Hire Racing is changing the transaxle between sessions hoping to fix issues with Lee Holdsworth’s car. He was 15th in the last session and co-driver Karl Reindler was ninth in the additional drivers run.

“We’re not quite as quick as we should be,” team boss Charlie Schwerkolt said.

“We’re quick at the top of the mountain, no dramas at all, but going up, straight-line speed and coming down Conrod we’re a little bit off the pace.

“We changed an engine last night, and we’re changing a transaxle now.

“Brand new gear all ready for Sunday of course, it’s a precautionary thing anyway, so the best of the best.”