McIntyre in top ten for V8 Supercar practice at Sandown

Leading New Zealand V8 race driver John McIntyre set a top-ten lap time during Friday’s V8 Supercar practice sessions at Sandown Raceway near Melbourne, Australia.

McIntyre, from Nelson, is signed as an endurance driver for the Stone Brothers Racing (SBR) team. As part of their preparation for the two key endurance races this season – Phillip 500 in early September and the Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000 in October – teams can have their endurance drivers drive the car in specified practice sessions in earlier events.

This weekend, as SBR prepares for the Norton 360 Sandown Challenge, McIntyre enjoyed a 35-minute session in the #9 SP Tools Racing Falcon normally driven by fellow Kiwi Shane Van Gisbergen.

McIntyre says with a nine week gap since he last drove the #9 car in Tasmania, the most important thing was to feel comfortable in the driving seat and set consistently fast lap times as quickly as possible.

“The session started a little damp, but dried. These cars are not easy to drive, so you need to make the most of every opportunity when you get time behind the wheel,” says McIntyre, whose drive with SBR in this season’s V8 Supercar endurance races was confirmed at the Hamilton 400 in April.

“After a few laps, I came in for the team to make some adjustments to the car, and then I was able to keep increasing my pace throughout the session. It’s good to be able to contribute to the team in this way.”

McIntyre’s time of 1:12.0326 put him ninth fastest of the 26 drivers who participated in the practice session, ahead of five-time Australian V8 touring car champion Mark Skaife who was tenth fastest.

“Now we start building some continuity towards Phillip Island in six weeks’ time. In a fortnight, I return to Australia for a full test day with SBR at their home circuit, Queensland Raceway, where we have the opportunity to practice routines for pit stops and driver changes.”