V8SDS: Decina Racing Clipsal Friday notes

DEBRIS ENDS LUFF'S PODIUM CHANCE

A speck of debris robbed Decina Racing's Warren Luff of a podium spot in the opening race of the HPDC V8 Supercar Series on the streets of Adelaide tonight.

Luff made a solid start in the 24-lap event and was running a comfortable second behind eventual race winner Dean Canto when his right rear tyre was pierced on lap 19.

Luff felt the pressure on his tyre dropping and while he backed off his speed the tyre eventually shattered and the BA Decina Falcon was forced into the pits.

He rejoined the race in 10th place and picked up one more spot in the 20-car field before the chequered flag.

The race was won by pole sitter Dean Canto from Adam Macrow, Tony D'Alberto and Luff's Paul Cruickshank Racing teammate Phillip Scifleet.

"We had a solid start and slotted into a solid rhythm in second place," said Luff.

"We had a set-up that was coming on quite well towards the end of the race when I picked up something that put a tiny hole in the tyre.

"I can't remember going through any debris, but obviously it was something quite small and at dusk it is always difficult to see what is on the circuit.

"At the end of the day it was good to salvage some reasonable points.

"We need to be patient tomorrow and pick our way through the field for a solid result."

Decina Racing Team Manager Jim Morton was pleased that Luff had enough "feel" to realise that his tyre was deflating.

"I don't know if we would have caught the leader, but we were looking OK for second," said Morton.

"It was good that Warren caught the problem early and took it easy so the tyre wouldn't blow out and throw him into a wall."

PCR principal, Paul Cruickshank, said there would be some work done on the car overnight in an effort to improve overall car speed.

"We obviously lacked a little bit when it came to the balance of the car when you look at the inconsistency in the sector times," said Cruickshank.

"Unfortunately by the time we could definitely confirm Warren's tyre was going flat, he had gone past the entrance to pit lane and was forced to do another lap.

"We just need to re-group tomorrow and make sure we have a solid game plan."

Tomorrow's 24-lap race starts at 9.55am

<pre> RACE 1 - RESULTS 1: Dean Canto Ford 24 Laps 2: Adam Macrow Ford 3: Tony D'Alberto Holden 4: Phillip Scifleet Ford 5: Gary MacDonald Ford 6: Grant Elliott Holden 7: Mark Porter Ford 8: Mark Howard Ford 9: Warren Luff Ford 10: Adam Wallis Ford 11: Aaron McGill Holden 23 Laps 12: Gary Dean Ford 13: Shane Beikoff Ford 14: Mark Pependell Holden 22 Laps 15: John Henderson Ford 16: Scott Loadsman Holden 17: Greg Smith Ford DNF Jay Verdnik Holden 17 Laps DNF Dean Wanless Ford 13 Laps DNF Jose Fernandez Ford 12 Laps

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