UTE: Symmons Plains Friday notes

Zukanovic Fastest For Ford in Tight V8 Ute Session at Symmons Plains

Victorian Ford driver Marcus Zukanovic topped the timesheets in two ultra-close practice sessions on day one of the Kanga Loaders V8 Ute Summer Shootout at Symmons Plains circuit in Tasmania today.

Zukanovic recorded a best lap time in his Ford Falcon XR8 of one minute 6.05 seconds, 0.2 sec. faster than Damien White in a Team Brock Holden SS.

In a typically tight V8 ute contest, the first 11 cars recorded times in the 1:06 bracket and the entire 21-car field was separated by less than 1.8 seconds.

The utes, a favourite with Tasmanian crowds, will line up for qualifying tomorrow morning and a 12-lap race in the afternoon. The starting order will be determined on qualifying times.

Sunday's program will feature a 12-lap reverse-grid race and a 15-lapper, with points earned in all heats counting towards the Dunlop Championship Trophy, which will be decided in the second round of the Kanga Loaders V8 Ute Summer Shootout at Eastern Creek, near Sydney, on 3-5 December.

White said this weekend's races were wide open, with the Symmons Plains layout favouring both the production-based Holdens and the Fords at different points.

"The Falcons will be really good under brakes into the hairpin and take good speed into the corners, but the Holdens ought to have the legs on the long back straight," White said.

<pre> Today's Top 10 (Practice) 1. Marcus Zukanovic (Vic.) Ford Falcon XR8 1:06.05 2. Damien White (NSW) Holden SS 1:06.25 3. Charlie Kovacs (SA) Holden 1:06.35 4. Grant Denyer (NSW) Ford 1:06.37 5. Kim Jane (Vic.) Holden 1:06.46 6. Colin Dunn (NSW) Ford 1:06.55 7. Luke May (NSW) Ford 1:06.60 8. Dave Griffin (NSW) Holden 1:06.609 9. Benn Wilson (Qld) Holden 1:06.62 10. Matt O'Grady (Qld) Holden 1:06.70

Weekend timetable Saturday -- 11 am Qualifying, 3.15 pm race 1 (12 laps) Sunday -- 1 pm Race 2 (12 laps), 4.10 pm Race 3 (15 laps)

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