Gracie hopes test day will boost results

Fujitsu Racing's Renee Gracie believes an upcoming test day will help her take another step forward in her V8 Supercars Dunlop Series campaign amid a tough initiation into the category this year.

Three rounds in to her debut Dunlop Series season, Gracie sits 16th in the pointsstandings with anaverage race finish of 19th. While she's satisfied with her progress, she admits the step up to the ultra competitive categoryhas beenas challengingas she expected.

The20-year old Paul Morris Motorsport driver runs inthe Dunlop Series for the 2015 season after a two year stint in the Porsche Carrera Cup category, where she recorded multiple top 10 finishes, oneround podium finish anda best race result of sixth.

Like any driver, Gracie is hungry for results, and is eager to get on top of her pace at a test day on Monday before resumingher campaign at the Castrol EDGE Townsville 400, which runs from July 10-12.

"It can always be better," Gracie told v8supercars.com.au of herprogress.

"I'm probably the worst person to ask because I'm my toughest critic, but I think I'm going okay - there are times where I could have done things differently or handled things better, but that's a part of the learning process.

"My weakest area has been qualifying with new tyre gain, so at the test we'll probably run a few sets of new tyres to try and maximise them.

"The testisalso going to be important to just get back into the swing of things before we get back on track at Townsville, because we've had eight weeks off since Winton."

Gracie has labelled her maiden assault of the Dunlop Series a 'learning year' to allow her to acclimatise herself to her new equipment and level of competition in the category.

Her words echo those of boss Paul Morris, who said it was a three-year process for a driver to hone in on their skills in the second-tier V8 Supercars class, before they're capable of graduating to the V8 Supercars Championship.

"A lot of the guys who are running up the front this year are even in their fourth year, so it's not an easy category," Gracie said of the Dunlop Series competition.

"This year, I've just got to learn everything so I can go into next year and put it to the test and see what I've learnt in this first initiation year.

"But by the end of this year, with a few races under my belt, I'd like to be moving my way up the field and getting better as I get used to things. But for now, I'm fairly happy."

Pau Morris Motorsport stablemate Bryce Fullwood is also scheduled to test alongside Gracie on June 29 at Queensland Raceway.

See Gracie return to the track when the Dunlop Series resumes at the Castrol EDGE Townsville 400, July 10-12. Click here for ticket information.