APR: Friday Oran Park round five notes

Shaw Leads Sydneysider Top Three Sweep

Returning Mazda pilot Ric Shaw has claimed pole position for round five of the 2005 Donut King Australian Performance Car Championship at Oran Park Raceway, Sydney.

Having his first run since the Clipsal 500 in Adelaide earlier in the year, Shaw (Sennheiser Audio Mazda RX7) topped the 20 minute qualifying session, with a benchmark of 1:14.3145 around the 2.62km circuit.

The day wasn't without problems, though, Shaw had to overcome losing the majority of the opening session with a rear suspension problem. The rotary rocket's last competition outing was a run at the Targa Tasmania, where Shaw finished eighth outright.

"It is good to be back with a result like that," enthused Shaw. "We have worked hard to be here and quick. It was a brand new car at the start of the year and it wasn't really sorted at Adelaide.

"Now that the car is sorted, we are doing well. Hopefully we can get a good some good results in the races and repay the support of Sennheiser and Oceangrove Wines, who have allowed us to be here this weekend."

On the fight back trail after missing the most recent round at Darwin, Chris Alajajian (Jack Hillermans Smash Subaru WRX STi) qualified in second place. The eighteen year old was pleased with the result, having found significant time between practice and qualifying.

"The car was pretty good today," Alajajian said. "We have some new Bilstein shocks in the car this weekend which are performing well. The Protecnica boys have done a good job to get the car on the pace, I just need to find the optimum lines around here to suit the car and we will make some minor adjustments. We'll see what come of tomorrow."

Winner of the most recent round of the championship in Darwin, Garry Holt (Century 21 Real Estate Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VIII) continued his strong form, topping the days two practice sessions and qualifying third on the grid, completing a trio of Sydney drivers in the top three. Championship point's leader Peter Floyd (BP Ultimate HSV GTS) will start alongside Holt, from fourth on the grid.

"We are happy with the result," said Floyd. "We are traveling nicely, but the cars infront are a long way away. The BP Ultimate HSV doesn't have the pace to catch them, but we are pleased to be on the second row of the grid."

Barry Morcom (Rondo Building Services Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VIII), Mark King (Delphi Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VIII), John Falk (Fibreglass International FPV MkII GT) and Gary Young (Readymix Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VIII) rounded out the top eight on the grid. All seven manufacturers competing this weekend are represented inside the top eleven.

Having his first run of the year, Adam Beechey was the best of the four car Donut King Racing outfit. Beechey was 9th in a Nissan 200SX, ahead of the similarly liveried Donut King sponsored entries of Barrie Nesbitt (Holden Monaro) and Beric Lynton (BMW M3).

"I have to thank Donut King and Toll Shipping for giving me the opportunity to get out on the track this weekend," said Beechey. "It was my first time on slicks and in a turbo car, and it got quicker each time we went out. We are chasing a slight misfire but it is still the quickest the car around here has been for a while."

Of the other drivers having their first run for the year, Mark Cohen (Sarina Smash Repairs HSV GTS) was 20th, ahead of Geoff Morgan (LinkMe.com.au BMW M3), with Brett Youlden (Robinson Racing Developments FPV F6 Typhoon) in 24th. Trevor Sheumack's weekend was short lived, with the www.kawasaki-fp.com HSV GTS suffering a blown engine in the first session.

The opening fifteen lap race of round five of the 2005 Donut King Australian Performance Car Championship kicks off at 12:00pm tomorrow, Saturday, before another pair of fifteen lap races on Sunday. <pre> Oran Park Qualifying Top Six; 1. Ric Shaw Mazda RX7 1:14.3145 2. Chris Alajajian Subaru WRX STi 1:14.8371 3. Garry Holt Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VIII 1:14.9222 4. Peter Floyd HSV GTS 1:16.0437 5. Barry Morcom Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VIII 1:16.0481 6. Mark King Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VIII 1:16.2207

Oran Park Combined Practice Top Six; 1. Garry Holt Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VIII 1:15.0063 2. Peter Floyd HSV GTS 1:15.7375 3. Ric Shaw Mazda RX7 1:15.9776 4. Beric Lynton BMW M3 1:16.2912 5. Mark King Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VIII 1:16.8506 6. John Falk FPV MkII GT 1:16.8550

-www.performanceracing.net.au