Phillip Island finale preview

PHILLIP ISLAND FINALE TO HEAT UP BETWEEN DAVISON AND BAIRD

Alex Davison warmed up for the final round of the Wright Patton Shakespeare Carrera Cup at Phillip Island by topping the time sheets in the first practice session this morning.

Sitting 68 points behind series leader Craig Baird in the standings, Davison (Glenfords Tool Centres / DeWalt) knows he will need to win all three races over the weekend and for Baird not to finish one of the races to have any chance to lift the championship trophy on Sunday night.

This morning Davison produced a best time around the 4.46km circuit of 1:35.1542 while series pacesetter Baird (Team VIP Petfoods) clocked a 1:35.3340 to be second fastest.

Young charger David Reynolds (Bob Jane T-Marts) was next best with a 1:35.4422 from Jonathon Webb (Glenfords Tool Centres / Makita) who clocked 1:35.6932.

Reynolds is on track to consolidate third place in the championship with his nearest rival being Jim Richards (OAMPS Insurance Brokers) who has been the victor the past two times that the all-Porsche series has featured at Phillip Island.

Today Richards, the 59-year-old Porsche veteran, was eighth fastest with a legion of young drivers pushing hard ahead of him.

Webb will be aiming for his first podium finish of the season on Sunday when he will also celebrate his 23rd birthday.

A dog fight looms for the Michelin Rookie of the Year title between David Wall (Glenfords Tool Centres / Hitachi) and David Russell (Boom Logistics / Sherrin Hire), and it all started today.

With only six points separating the two youngsters in the rookie standings headed by Wall, Russell laid down the fastest lap today by one-tenth of a second.

Out of the privateer drivers eligible for the TAG Heuer Carrera Challenge award, Rodney Jane (Bob Jane T-Marts) was the fastest in practice with a 1:37.1916 lap from Tony Quinn (Team VIP Petfoods) and then Dean Grant.

Round eight of the Wright Patton Shakespeare Carrera Cup at the Caterpillar Grand Finale at Phillip Island will continue tomorrow with Practice 2 at 9.05am, Qualifying at 1.20pm and Race 1 at 4.40pm.

-credit: cupcar.au