Work Ahead for Team HIFLEX

Tony D'Alberto says a lack of tyre life has cost him better resultsat Barbagallo Raceway over the weekend.

"They were really difficult races for me. We had some issues inSaturday's race, but the car was not good enough over a race distance," D'Alberto said.

Driving the #3 Team HIFLEX Commodore VF, D'Alberto finished 24th,18th and 22nd in the three races, well below the expected results of thecompetitive single-car team.

"Our one lap qualifying pace is just as good as the otherWalkinshaw cars, so I don't think we're doing anything majorly wrong. As agroup, we're all well off the pace.”

D'Alberto qualified 17th, 14th and 18th for the races, but was lefthelpless with dramatic tyre degradation at the West Australian circuit. Thelack of grip cost him vital track positions.

"We've got some work to do,” he said. “Every avenue that weoperate in needs to be worked on, but I'm sure with some hard work, we'll beable to get back to where we started the year.

"From here, we go to Austin, and we're all looking forward togetting over there and getting back on the pace."

Team owner Al D’Alberto agreed there was some improvement requiredmoving forward.

"It was a tough weekend for us, and there's some work to bedone to make sure we get back up the front soon," he said.

"The team is working as hard as ever, but we've got to find abetter package for our Commodore.

"We're all very excited about heading to Texas in two weekstime so hopefully that will be the start of some better results for us."

The next event of the V8 Supercars Championship will be held at theCircuit of the Americas venue in Austin, Texas – the first time the V8Supercars have raced in North America.

The Austin 400 will be held from May 17-19.