Baird fastest in street race qualifying
Friday 17 April 2009, 7:28PM
By Triple X Motorsport
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Triple X Motorsport racer Craig Baird has topped the Porsche field in qualifying for the first of three races at the Hamilton V8 Supercar weekend.
Taking to the 3.4 kilometre street course around Hamilton’s Frankton business district, Baird in the Barrons RV Taupo – ZM car dominated the 20 minute session with team debutant John McIntyre in the VnC Cocktails car 0.4466 seconds behind.
“It’s very bumpy – it’s surprising,” said Queensland based Baird after setting his fastest lap. “I had one big moment at the chicane where I bent something, but I was lucky enough to complete the lap to set fastest time.”
“Half the track that was bumpy last year is fixed 100% and then other parts where there has been movement in the ground – the car just bounces all over the place. We’re just glad to be consistently faster so the race tomorrow should be a lot easier – we’ll just be rattling our fillings out during it.”
Immediately after setting his fastest lap time, McIntyre clipped a tyre bundle located on the entry to the back-straight chicane which launched the car after tearing the front right wheel loose from its mounts. Causing the session to be red-flagged (halted). McIntyre’s time for second position was then deleted – leaving him with third fastest for the session.
“Obviously I’m really happy with the pace but disappointed when you damage any car,” said McIntyre after returning the car for mechanics to effect repairs.
“I just got the chicane wrong and it just takes the wheel out of your hand and shovels the car where it wants to – so we’re very lucky it didn’t fire us in to the wall. Now we’ve been shuffled back to third, which I think it’s better to start behind Craig (Baird) and be on the inside at the first turn.”
“But obviously I’m learning, I’ve done the qualifying; now I’ve got to learn how to race the cars.”
With two 12-lap races on Saturday, Baird and McIntyre will be line-astern, with Daniel Gaunt (Placemakers – Hampsta – Porsche 997) starting from fifth, Courtney Letica (Altherm – Porsche 997) in seventh and Mad Butcher CEO Mike Morton (Beef and Lamb – Radio Sport – Trinity Media Group - Porsche 997) 11th.
A final 12-lap on the Sunday will be followed by a podium presentation from 2pm in the afternoon.
Ends.
Qualifying: Hamilton 400 V8 Supercar weekend - Porsche GT3 Cup
Pos Car Driver Vehicle Time
1 1 Craig Baird (AUS) –Triple X Motorsport Porsche 997 1:26.7143
2 51 Jono Lester (AKL) Porsche 997 +0.651
3 40 John McIntyre (AKL) - Triple X Motorsport Porsche 997 +0.797
4 96 Anthony Pedersen (ROT) Porsche 997 +0.8057
5 47 Daniel Gaunt (AKL) - Triple X Motorsport Porsche 997 +0.8088
6 10 Jody Vincent (AKL) Porsche 997 +1.0280
7 13 Courtney Letica (AKL) - Triple X Motorsport Porsche 997 +1.3505
8 98 Mark Russ (AKL) Porsche 997 +1.8419
9 11 Darryn Henderson (WGT) Porsche 997 +2.3500
10 35 Rob Steele (AKL) Porsche 996 +3.5344
11 2 Mike Morton (AKL) - Triple X Motorsport Porsche 997 +5.7138
Calendar 2008/09 Porsche GT3 Cup Championship:
Round 1: Pukekohe Park, 7-9 November 2008
Round 2: Powerbuilt Tools International Raceway (Christchurch), 28-30 November 2008
Round 3: Timaru International Motor Raceway, 9-11 January 2009
Round 4: Teretonga Park (Invercargill), 16-18 January 2009
Round 5: Manfeild Park (Feilding), 27 February - 1 March 2009
Round 6: Pukekohe Park, 13-15 March 2009
Plus: Hamilton 400, 17-19 April 2009