News

Track: Adelaide Parklands
Race:  Clipsal 500
Date:  March 4th 2016
 
No. 17 Shell Helix Ford Falcon FG X – Scott Pye
Practice 1: 6th - Lap Time 1:20.95
Practice 2: 8th - Lap Time 1:20.11
Qualifying Race 1: Pole Position – Lap Time 1:20.01
Qualifying Race 2: 7th – Lap Time 1:20.67
 
No. 12 Shell Helix Ford Falcon FG X – Fabian Coulthard
Practice 1: 7th - Lap Time 1:21.02
Practice 2: 18th - Lap Time 1:20.46
Qualifying Race 1: 13th – Lap Time 1:20.46
Qualifying Race 2: 17th – Lap Time 1:21.10
 
Recap: Scott Pye has gained his first Pole Position in V8 Supercars with a strong qualifying performance in the first of two sessions today at the Clipsal 500. Both Shell Helix Falcons ran strongly in the opening practice session finishing line astern in 6th and 7th positions. This form continued for Pye into P2 with another Top 10 finish.

Pye was able to capitalize on his early speed holding out Jamie Whincup to grab Pole in Q1 by just 9/100ths of a second. Coulthard was improving with each session but he found that there were still some issues to sort out in his brand new Falcon FG X.

In a change of format, the first Qualifying session was run on the Dunlop ‘Soft’ tyre and the second session reverted to the ‘Hard’ tyre.

Two 125km races kick off the 2016 V8 Supercars Championship on Saturday with further Qualifying and a 250km final on Sunday.
 
Scott Pye Quote:  "It is a great privilege to be here with No 17 on the side of the Shell Helix Falcon. Last year I was on the sidelines so it is really quite amazing to come out today and get these results. To roll out with the cars in such a competitive way is very promising for the future. The guys have worked so hard in the off season turning a one car team into two and today makes that so worthwhile.

"Coming back and racing here is always an awesome experience. The fans are so good and are always welcoming me back home. It is a very special feeling. It will sink in tomorrow when we pull up on the grid in P1.

"We are working very well as a team and the hard work of last year is starting to pay dividends. It is a very exciting time at DJR Team Penske."
 
Fabian Coulthard Quote: "It wasn’t a bad day, but I just need to get more comfortable in this car. We had a few little gremlins to sort out which is not unusual in a brand new car. Once we iron that out I think we are somewhere close.

"It is comforting seeing Scott do such an awesome job today, so we know it is not the package. We need to extract more from me and the car to move up the field."