SBR’s naming right sponsors, SP Tools and IRWIN Industrial Tools have announced they will combine their sponsorship in an attempt to win the elusive Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000. The correlation between the tool companies will allow for SBR’s main series drivers, Shane van Gisbergen and Alex Davison to pair up in a dual livery FG Falcon for the 2009 enduro season events. [Read more...]
TEAM MATES PAIR UP TO TACKLE V8 SUPERCAR ENDUROS
August 30, 2009 By Leave a Comment
A SHOT AT REDEMPTION – SP Tools Racing
June 20, 2009 By Leave a Comment
The Sky City Triple Crown dished out some cruel blows today when Alex Davison lost an engine four laps onto the first part of Qualifying. His Teammate, Shane van Gisbergen didn’t fare much better starting on the grid in 23rd after failing to record a lap quick enough to make it into the next elimination leg.
The tracks temperature was at 46 degrees on the starting grid with the first seven cars fitted with ‘sprint’ tyres. The decision for SBR to use hards tyres only in today’s race was made in order to keep them in reserve for tomorrow’s double length feature.
On the first lap Shane was forced out wide after Jack Perkins made contact with him at turn 1. The early incident saw Shane drop back to last place and forced Perkins to retire from the race. Davison’s efforts moved him up five places before the first car of the field pitted on lap 5.
The IRWIN Falcon made its way down Pit Lane on Lap 18 for two new rear tyres and fuel, one lap later the SP Tools Falcon stopped for the same combination, Shane re-entered the race behind Alex in 27th.
The following laps remained free of Safety Car interruption and at the chequered flag Alex and Shane crossed the line 19th and 20th.
The 35 lap race was called short by one lap due to Channel 7 telecast scheduling.
Shane van Gisbergen – Driver, SP Tools Car #9
“We thought in qualifying we would be really strong because we were good here yesterday on fresh tyres. When we went out we picked up a whole lot of understeer, the track had changed quite a lot over night. It was the first time we didn’t make it into the top twenty with no problems which was a real shame.
“We continued to struggle in the race with understeer and couldn’t tune it out with the bars or the break bias so we just drove around the back the whole race.
“I am confident we can come back from this and make good use of the soft tyres tomorrow.”
Ross Stone – SBR Team Principal
“After having such a strong performance yesterday to qualify badly with Shane and lose an engine in Alex’s car was pretty devastating. One of the things that keeps you going in racing is there is always tomorrow, we have fresh sets of tyres for both cars in qualifying and the soft tyres that we know will give us a 1.8 to 2 second a lap advantage.”
Race Results
TODAY’S RESULTS
POS CAR # DRIVER TEAM VEHICLE
1 1 Jamie Whincup Team Vodafone Ford FG
2 5 Mark Winterbottom Ford Performance Racing Ford FG
3 22 Will Davison Holden Racing Team Holden VE
4 2 Garth Tander Holden Racing Team Holden VE
5 7 Todd Kelly Jack Daniel’s Racing Holden VE
6 888 Craig Lowndes Team Vodafone Ford FG
7 8 Jason Richards Team BOC Holden VE
8 18 James Courtney Jim Beam Racing Ford FG
19 4 Alex Davison IRWIN Racing Ford FG
20 9 Shane van Gisbergen SP Tools Racing Ford FG
VAN GISBERGEN ‘HOT’ IN DARWIN – SP Tools V8 Racing
June 19, 2009 By Leave a Comment
SBR’s strong track record at the Hidden Valley circuit was alive again today when both SP Tools Racing’s Shane van Gisbergen and IRWIN Racing’s Alex Davison finished in the top ten for Practice.
The Darwin heat proved to be no issue for New Zealand born van Gisbergen as he remained at the top of the times, when with less than two minutes to go Will Davison set the fastest lap of the day pushing Shane back to second.
Alex Davison struggled for balance in his IRWIN Ford but recovered well when the team changed to a better set of tyres. Finishing the session 10th overall was a rewarding result after having problems with grip and understeer earlier in the day.
Shane van Gisbergen – Driver, SP Tools Racing Car #9
“We struggled for balance for a while there, the first half of practice was a long fifty minutes. We made quite a few changes during the break and as soon as we moved to better tyres it was bang and we were up there.
“It’s great to be here, in the top three. After we set our quickset time we still had some really strong laps that followed which proved we have things right with the car. It’s always good for the team to have both drivers up there, Alex finishing in the ten is a great result for SBR.”
TODAY’S RESULTS
POS CAR # DRIVER TEAM TIME
1 22 Will Davison Holden Racing Team 1:09.7269
2 9 Shane van Gisbergen SP Tools Racing 1:09.8329
3 888 Craig Lowndes Team Vodafone 1:09.8864
4 1 Jamie Whincup Team Vodafone 1:09.8899
5 15 Rick Kelly Jack Daniel’s Racing 1:09.8953
6 5 Mark Winterbottom Ford Performance Racing 1:09.9851
7 6 Steven Richards Ford Performance Racing 1:09.9887
8 7 Todd Kelly Jack Daniel’s Racing 1:10.0733
9 34 Michael Caruso Garry Rogers Motorsport 1:10.1419
10 4 Alex Davison IRWIN Racing 1:10.2270
SHANE SIXTH AT SYMMONS – Falken Tasmania Challenge Race 1
May 30, 2009 By Leave a Comment
SP Tools Racing’s Shane van Gisbergen took part in his second ever Shootout after finishing 4th quickest in the second leg of Qualifying earlier today. The SP Tools FG Falcon started from 7th position on the grid for the 42 lap race at the Symmons Plains International Circuit.
The SBR team were happy with Alex Davison’s efforts qualifying the IRWIN Tools Falcon in 17th. [Read more...]