TBE Sandown Friday report

The first day of practice at the Betta Electrical Sandown 500 saw some good results for the Team Betta Electrical, The first practices session held this morning was a good settling in period for the drivers new to the team, Mathew White, who has a lot of Konica Care series experience and Rickard Rydell, the Swedish driver brought out to join Paul Radisich in driving car 65.

In the first 45-minute practice session held this morning both Team Betta Electrical cars finished in the top 15. Radisich and Rydell finished the session in 5th place with a fastest lap time of 1:11.94. This was a gap of only, 26 seconds behind the fastest car of Pirtek Racing driven by Ingall and Ambrose. Canto and White finished in 15th place with a best lap time of behind the leaders.

In the second practice session the Team Betta Electrical cars went well with the teaming of Radisich and Rydell finishing in third place. Rydell is fast adapting to the V* Supercar, which is vastly different to the cars Rydell, is familiar with in his home European racing circuits. Rydell made comment about the H shaped gear changing and it being on "the wrong side" He also mentioned how competitive this V8 Supercar championship is compared to those he is more familiar with in Europe.

Rydell said he was also familiar with many of the Australian racing car drivers having competed against them when they have been competing in Europe. On the cars themselves, Rydell pointed out the differences in the way of driving. He said, "they have a lot of power but no grip at all, they drive completely differently." " He also said he is looking forward to competing at Bathurst, saying that he believes the track at Bathurst "is the best in the world."

Canto and White experienced some technical difficulties with car 66 in the second session and finished in 31st place. The engineers will be working on the car overnight and have it in top condition for practice and qualifying on Saturday.