Three EMV8s in Top Five

Erebus Motorsport V8 CEO Ryan Maddison is “ecstatic” after seeing all three Mercedes-Benz E63 AMGs in the top five of today’s second practice session at the Coates Hire Ipswich 360. 

The Bottle-O FPR’s David Reynolds was quickest, followed by Lee Holdsworth, Tim Slade and Maro Engel, the three Erebus machines filling positions two to four.

“To have all three running in the top five for most of the day and finish in the top five is fantastic,” Maddison said after the session.

“Mind you, it’s what we expected to do after the test day, but you never know until that 10 minutes when everyone bolts on their green tyres and shows what they’ve really got.

“I think it’s fantastic for our three drivers – especially Maro – to present there all day.

“There’s absolutely no reason for us to think, considering the nature of the race over the weekend, that we won’t perform strongly in the races from what we have in our test and in the sessions today.”

In today’s first practice session – during which co-drivers took to the wheel for at least the first 30 minutes – the three Mercedes-Benz E63 AMGs were first (Heavy Haulage Australia), second (IRWIN Racing) and 20th (SP Tools).

Lockwood Racing’s Fabian Coulthard rounded out the top five in Practice Two.

Championship leader Jamie Whincup was 13th.

A third, half-hour practice session will take place tomorrow at 10.15am AEST, followed by Qualifying and the 60/60 Super Sprint race.