DJR Team Penske backs up
Tony D’Alberto has backed up DJR Team Penske driver Fabian Coulthard’s speed earlier today by clinching the top tine in the second co-driver only session.
Partnering Scott Pye, D’Alberto sat atop the times for plenty of the first session and in the second half-hour run was able to take the honours this afternoon at the Wilson Security Sandown 500.
He joins DJR Team Penske for the first time and while the Falcons have had inconsistent results, the team is confident this event and Bathurst could suit the car.
D’Alberto set the top time, a 1min09.1656 midway through the session and on his last lap got within two-tenths of the time.
His time pipped Steven Richards by 0.0622sec, though the TeamVortex driver, paired with Craig Lowndes, was pleased with where he ended the session.
“We’ve been working on the car pretty hard making it a nice race car –who knows what conditions we’ll get Sunday, but it’s working really well,” Richards said.
“I know it’s early days but we’re really making inroads.”
Steve Owen, paired with Chaz Mostert, finished third but said he was not happy with the car.
Prodrive teammate Dean Canto, who drives with defending Supercars champion Mark Winterbottom, was down the order in 20th, though team boss Tim Edwards suggested it was due to tyre quality.
Click here for full results.
One final practice session, for all drivers, kicks off the Virgin Australia Supercars Championship tomorrow at Sandown.
