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AUS: Adelaide qualifying report

HOME TOWN HERO BRYCE WASHINGTON TAKES HIS FIRST EVER POLE POSITION Adelaide boy Bryce Washington (ADRAD Radiators) has continued his brilliant weekend at the Clipsal 500 Adelaide by claiming his first ever Carrera Cup pole position after today's ...

Published: Feb 28, 2008, 6:40 AM

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HOME TOWN HERO BRYCE WASHINGTON TAKES HIS FIRST EVER POLE POSITION

Adelaide boy Bryce Washington (ADRAD Radiators) has continued his brilliant weekend at the Clipsal 500 Adelaide by claiming his first ever Carrera Cup pole position after today's qualifying session.

Washington backed up his sensational performance in practice on Thursday -- where he topped the time sheets in the afternoon session -- to set a new qualifying record of 1.23.226 around the Adelaide circuit.

While the final result wasn't surprising the means to it were, with Washington coming from nowhere to set the time.

Early on in the 25 minute session he looked off the pace and was as low as sixth, but after pitting midway through qualifying and reassessing, he stormed out of the pits to set the fastest time with just over five minutes remaining.

The lap rocked his Sonic Motor Racing team mate Dean Fiore (Complispace/Advance Energy) who until that point had looked likely to snare pole.

Fiore looked the goods all session and was never lower than third throughout the 25 minutes, but he had to settle for second with 1.23.354 after his team mate's flying lap.

He wasn't even able to reply to Washington's storming time, with Fiore already out of his Porsche and watching the lap on pit lane monitors when it was set.

Pole-position favourite Craig Baird (ACER/Leading Solutions) was third with a 1.23.459, while Aaron Caratti (Parklands on Bertram) was another to shine in qualifying and set his highest ever position of fourth with a 1.23.488.

The standard of driving in the first qualifying session of the year was so high that the top four drivers all beat the previous qualifying lap record of 1.23.536, set by Alex Davison last year.

David Wall (Shannon's Insurance) was fifth fastest with 1.23.675 while David Russell (Boom Logistics) was sixth with 1.23.733.

James Moffat (Bob Jane T-marts) was the best of the rookie drivers in seventh (1.23.960) but he was only one spot ahead of fellow rookie Barton Mawer (Opes Prime Stockbroking) who set 1.24.157.

Rodney Jane (Bob Jane T-Marts) was ninth with 1.24.247, while James Koundouris (Supabarn Supermarkets) was the highest Pilatus Challenge qualifier, which is for non-professional drivers over the age of 30, in rounding out the top 10 in 1.24.514.

Washington was thrilled with his performance, but unsure how it came about.

"It was so hard to get a clear lap because of the traffic and I thought I had missed my tyre window," he said.

"I made a few errors during my first run but I knew I could do the time so as I sat in pit lane I had a bit of a think about what I needed to do.

"I'm pretty excited but it's about the bigger picture and the rest of the weekend now."

Fiore was happy with his second spot, but will be persisted by thoughts of what could have been.

"I did my time and had nothing left in the tyres so I thought 'that's it' and got out of the car," he said.

"The track seemed to get quicker as the session went on and those who left their second set of tyres the latest seemed to get the best out of it.

"While it's not pole the first row is still awesome and we know we've got a good race package so it's looking good for tomorrow."

Moffat was impressed to be the leading rookie but, as is the case with most drivers, wanted more.

"My goal before the end of the weekend was to be near the top five so I'm not far off," he said.

"It's nice to be the quickest of the new guys and even though I'd like to be further up you can't be too greedy to soon."

Race One of the three will take to the Adelaide circuit live on Channel 7 at 1.50pm tomorrow, with Race Two later on Saturday afternoon.

The final race of the round will be held on Sunday and will be telecast on Channel 7 from 1.40 pm.

-credit: cupcar.com.au

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