Stadium Super Trucks practice and qualifying sessions yielded some hairy moments today, as drivers came to grips with the loose and lumbering race machines.
The largest casualty of the two on-track sessions was Nathan Pretty. Pretty put a personal touch on to the nose of the big blue Toyo Tires truck during a post-chicane encounter with the track wall.
A handful of Australian drivers had their virgin experience with the trucks on Monday at a closed practice session at Mallala Motorsport Park.
The unique design mandates of grip, big air and big drama creates an experience unlike any other category on the bill.
Punters watching the series for the first time quickly notice the trucks unique handling characteristics. Wont to stick leading wheels in the air during hard cornering and over steer, the hard-hitting suspension and big power of the SST’s requires serious taming.
Pretty wasn’t the only one experiencing teething issues. Brad Gallard, Toby Price, Billy Geddes and Matt Mingay had their share of clench inducing moments during the two sessions. Stunt extraordinaire Mingay ironed out the bugs to lead the Aussie into qualifying for tomorrows race.
The more experienced American contingent kept their fibreglass out of the furniture. Big man on campus Robby Gordon couldn’t match pace with Venezuelan EJ Viso, Keegan Kincaid or underage pacesetter Sheldon Creed.
The latter logged an impressive 1:51.9 to qualify first, followed by Kincaid and Gordon.
The sport has already made a marked impact with V8 Supercar fans.
Robby Gordon, speaking with speedcafe.com.au earlier today flagged the idea of launching the sport full time down under, building the cars from his Charlotte, North Carolina facility.
“Maybe we are a little early for that, but if there was enough interest I would build enough cars to do it.”
“We’ve started to put some patents and trademarks in place with these jumps.
“I know I’ve got something and people are thinking about copying it. It is the first sign that people like it.”
“V8 Supercars will put people in the grandstands, which is a great thing,” said Gordon.
“We will take them out of the grandstands and put them next to the fence because they want to get closer to the action.
