Bathurst 12: Event Friday practice report

QUINN LEADS THE WAY ON PRACTICE DAY AT WPS BATHURST 12 HOUR

Denyer set to race for first time since back injury

Gold Coaster Klark Quinn has paced the field during the opening day of action for the WPS Bathurst 12 Hour Showroom Enduro at Mount Panorama, Bathurst, NSW today.

Quinn, who is sharing the driving duties with his father Tony and television star Grant Denyer for this weekend's once around the clock encounter, set the fastest lap of the day aboard the VIP Pet Foods Mitsubishi Lancer around the 6.21km circuit.

"The most important thing around here for a quick lap this weekend, with the large variety of cars and drivers on-track, is to try and miss all of the traffic and that is what I was able to do in the first session this morning," said Klark Quinn.

"Everything seemed to fall into place for that one flying lap but the most pleasing thing is the fact that all three of us are very consistent in our lap times which bodes well for the 12 hour race on Sunday.

"Really though, by tomorrow this time today's result won't count for much and on Sunday it will count for even less, however, it is a good boost for the team."

Denyer successfully completed his long road of recovery from the back injury he sustained in a monster truck incident last September today, when he contested the pair of practice sessions.

"This race has been the 'light at the end of the tunnel' for my recovery. It was the one thing I had my sights set on all throughout the rehabilitation so it has been great to get back in a car today," said Denyer.

"I only got the all clear from the doctors a week or so ago and have basically been lying on my back for six months so my fitness is a long way from where it was last year -- I mean a long way!"

The second fastest time of the day was set by Steve Owen in the Supabarn Supermarkets Mitsubishi Lancer. The reigning Fujitsu V8 Champion is this weekend paired with the Koundouris brothers, James and Theo, for the WPS Bathurst 12 Hour race.

A further practice session and qualifying will be held tomorrow prior to Sunday's WPS Bathurst 12 Hour Showroom Enduro, featuring 48 starters, beginning at 6:30am.

Three races were contested in the opening round of the Shannons Nationals this afternoon with the HQ Holdens, Formula Vee and Porsche GT3 Challenge categories taking to the circuit.

In the HQ Holden race it was Gary Bonwick who won after starting from pole position ahead of the Victorian pair of John Wood and John Wise. Recently retired V8 Supercar driver Paul Morris finished fourth.

Defending Formula Vee Series Champion Ben Porter was dominant in the Formula Vee ranks, while Tony Quinn - fresh from victory in last weekend's Rally Tasmania - rounded out a good day for the VIP Petfoods team by securing the victory in his comeback drive in the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge race held late this afternoon.

Also taking to the track today were the Saloon Cars and Improved Production classes, completing their qualifying ahead of their first races tomorrow. Shawn Jamieson of South Australia and Ray Hislop of Tasmania set the fastest results of the day to be on grid one for the two respective classes.

-credit: bathurst12hour.com.au