Phillip Island: Qualifying one results

Australian Sports Sedan Championship - Round One - Phillip Island - April 12-14

Sports Sedans - Qualifying One:
Ricciardello on Provisional Pole

In tricky conditions and on the last lap of the first qualifing session, Tony Riccairdello threw down the gauntlet to his rivals by claiming provisional pole with a time of 1:33.7567. The stunning time came after heavy overnight and intermittent morning rain left the track greasy, and was just one tenth outside the lap record already held by Ricciardello in the Alfa/Chev.

Tyre choice was critical and most of those who went out initially on grooved wet rubber were quickly returning to the pits to fit dry slick tyres. Queenslander Brett Francis stayed on wets throughout the session and suffered accordingly, his Falcon slipping well down the order.

For much of the session it was the Saab/Chev of Darren Hossack which looked the car to beat and its 1:34.9571 became the session's second fastest time.

Third fastest went to the Nissan/Chev of Kerry Baily who only turned in competitive laps late in the session. He pushed the triple rotor Mazda RX7 of young gun Luke Youlden to position four ahead of Stephen Voight (Honda Prelude/Chev) and Tony Wilson (Holden Commodore/Chev).

Dean Randle (Saab/Chev) and Ivan Mikac (Mazda RX7) have starting positions on row four for the moment while Graham Smith's Holden Calibra/Fiat Turbo overcame a pop-off valve problem from Friday for the ninth fastest time. Completing the top ten is the V8 Supercar Holden Commodore VS of Robert Smith

Mick Monterosso was expected to be among the front runners but snapped a reaction rod and lost gear selection in his Ford Escort/Chev, and Ray Ayton's Calibra/Chev lost a timing belt. Troubles also struck the Mercedes Benz of Geoff Munday, and Dean Camm's Prelude/Chev.

SPORTS SEDANS QUALIFYING ONE
1-Tony Ricciardello (WA) Alfa Romeo/Chev 1:33.7567
2-Darren Hossack (Vic) Saab/Chev 1:34.9571
3-Kerry Baily (Tas) Nissan 300ZX/Chev 1:35.8585
4-Luke Youlden (Vic) Mazda RX7 1:37.6715
5-Steve Voight (Qld) Honda Prelude/Chev 1:37.7440
6-Tony Wilson (NSW) Holden Commodore VS/Chev 1:39.6613
7-Dean Randle (Vic) Saab/Chev 1:40.5466
8-Ivan Mikac (ACT) Mazda RX7 1:41.5724
9-Graham Smith (NSW) Holden Calibra/Fiat Turbo 1:41.5771
10-Robert Smith (Vic) Holden Commodore VS 1:43.5003

WEEKEND SCHEDULE

Saturday April 13
1630-1655, Sports Sedan Qualifying 2

Sunday April 14
0930-0945, Sports Sedan Race One
1350-1405, Sports Sedan Race Two

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