Calder Qualifying

CENTURY BATTERIES AUSTRALIAN GT PRODUCTION CAR CHAMPIONSHIP

CALDER QUALIFYING 24th JULY 1999

PARK GRABS FIRST FERRARI 1999 POLE POSITION

Ferrari F355 Challenge driver Wayne Park has thrown out a challenge to his dominant Porsche opposition by gaining the first Ferrari pole for 1999 at the Calder Park round of the Century Batteries Australian GT Production Car Championship.

Park qualified second fastest behind Peter Fitzgerald in the opening session but turned the tables in the afternoon to claim his first GTP pole.

The result for the Queensland driver represents a great fight-back after the car was badly damaged in a start-line shunt at Sandown recently and Park also stood aside at the last race at Queensland Raceway for outright Championship contender Domenic Beninca.

"The team and I have put our heads together to try to come up with a suspension package to suit the circuit because the track can be very greasy and has lots of bumps," Park said.

"It is very rewarding to see the package we came up with pay off.

"This is only part one of our goal. We are not in a position to win the championship but our aim is to try to win a few races."

Championship leader Jim Richards was third fastest in both sessions ahead of Domenic Beninca in a similar Porsche in session one, and Ed Aitken in session two.

Craig Dean continued his improved run aboard the Ford Mustang Saleen in the Meguiar’s Top Marques Class A division, qualifying in the top ten in both sessions.

Geoff Full’s barnstorming run as the Autobarn Class B dominator may have come to a halt after he again struck engine problems aboard his Subaru Impreza WRX.

Full suffered an engine failure yesterday and again in the first session today. A third replacement engine is now being sought to get his attack back on track tomorrow.

Bob Hughes (Mazda RX7) and Mark King (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo III) shared the Class B pole positions.

Peter Phelan’s Holden Commodore VT SS was the Class C pacesetter while Ric Shaw (Toyota MR2 Bathurst) headed Wayne Russell (BMW 323i) in both Class S sessions.

Megan Kirkham’s Mazda MX-5 was damaged after spinning from contact with Sam Newman’s Class D Holden Vectra. Kirkham was subsequently struck by Rob Chadwick’s Mitsubishi Magna after the spin. Despite damage to the driver’s door, Kirkham was uninjured in the incident.

GTP LIGHTS

Phil Kirkham (Mazda 626) again set the GTP Lights Class D pace from Newman’s team-mate Melinda Price while Nathan Thomas (Suzuki Swift GTi) was again the Class E pacesetter ahead of Kosi Kalaitzidis (Proton M21 Coupe).

Craig Dontas was back in his own Class E Suzuki Swift GTi after sharing team-mate Sue Hughes’ machine yesterday.

RESULTS QUALIFYING ONE 1. - Peter Fitzgerald, Porsche 911 RSCS (A) - 1:00.439 2. - Wayne Park, Ferrari F355 Challenge (A) - 1:00.821 3. - Jim Richards, Porsche 911 RSCS (A) - 1:01.011 4. - Domenic Beninca, Porsche 911 RSCS (A) - 1:01.045 Class B - Bob Hughes, Mazda RX7 - 1:04.774 Class C - Peter Phelan, Holden Commodore VT SS - 1:07.830 Class D - Phil Kirkham, Mazda 626 - 1:10.822 Class E - Nathan Thomas, Suzuki Swift GTi - 1:11.661 Class S - Ric Shaw, Toyota MR2 Bathurst - 1:08.289

COMPLETE RESULTS http://www.racetime.com.au/racedata/c9933/q02fast.htm

QUALIFYING TWO 1. - Wayne Park, Ferrari F355 Challenge (A) - 1:00.875 2. - Peter Fitzgerald, Porsche 911 RSCS (A) - 1:00.955 3. - Jim Richards, Porsche 911 RSCS (A) - 1:01.006 4. - Ed Aitken, Porsche 911 RSCS (A) - 1:01.280 Class B - Mark King, Mitsubishi Lancer Evo III - 1:05.599 Class C - Peter Phelan, Holden Commodore VT SS - 1:08.370 Class D - Phil Kirkham, Mazda 626 - 1:11.294 Class E - Nathan Thomas, Suzuki Swift GTi - 1:11.706 Class S - Ric Shaw, Toyota MR2 Bathurst - 1:08.867

COMPLETE RESULTS http://www.racetime.com.au/racedata/c9933/q06fast.htm

Paul Ryan http://www.gtprod.com.au/