Porter fastest in practice, but way off 2005 pace.

by Matthew Agius

Hydraulink Racing's Mark Porter has emerged quickest after the two practice sessions for the Fujitsu V8 Supercar Series support race in Adelaide, but was well off the records smashed by 2005 champion Dean Canto this time last year.

Porter was clearly the standout in the two practice sessions with only series newcomer Kayne Scott and 2005 series frontrunner Adam Macrow managing to set times within one second of Porter's best lap.

On his V8 Supercar debut, Dick Johnson Racing's Marcus La Delle was fourth quickest in the First Rock Home Loans AU Falcon - a tremendous effort considering the AU Falcon's inferiority in comparison to its younger brother in the BA Falcon, and its Holden rivals.

Making his full-time Fujitsu Series debut this weekend is former Nations Cup driver Nathan Pretty. Driving for the Smiths Trucks Racing team, Pretty quickly got up to speed and set a solid time of 1:26.3350s in the second of today's two sessions.

Pretty led Dick Johnson Racing's new team leader Grant Denyer who continues to drive the Summit Fleet/Jax Tyres BA Falcon in 2006. Denyer, remains a developing driver leading a youthful squad in 2006, so the pressure may take its toll on him. That's said, his machinery did win last year's championship so he could easily contend for the title.

Series debutant Chris Pither is another pilot to step up to V8 tin-tops from the recently restructured V8 Ute Series, and driving the Kanga Loaders AU Falcon finished seventh outright in practice, ahead of more experienced rivals Wayne Wakefield - a former casual entrant of the main game category - and Tony D'Alberto - Holden's frontrunning driver in last year's Fujitsu Championship.

Tony Evangelou rounded out the combined practice top ten in his first run with the ex-Ford Performance Racing BA Falcon for Dexion Racing.

Qualifying and the opening race for the Fujitsu Series will be contested tomorrow, as the competition in V8 racing's second tier series supports the premier class championship at the Clipsal 500 Adelaide.

Fujitsu Series: Clipsal 500 Adelaide Support - Outright Practice - Top 10

1. Mark Porter M-Sport Racing, VZ Commodore 1m 25.0919s
2. Kane Scott Mark Petch Motorsport, VZ Commodore 1:25.7655s
3. Adam Macrow Howard Racing, BA Falcon 1m 25.9832s
4. Marcus La Delle FirstRock Mortgage Centre, AU Falcon 1m 26.1178s
5. Nathan Pretty Smiths Trucks Racing, VZ Commodore 1m 26.3350s
6. Grant Denyer Summit Fleet/Jax Tyres, BA Falcon 1m 26.3508s
7. Chris Pither Kanga Loaders Racing, AU Falcon 1m 26.3842s
8. Wayne Wakefield Peters Motorsport, AU Falcon 1m 24.4465s
9. Tony D'Alberto GMAC Racing, VZ Commodore 1m 26.6046s
10. Tony Evangelou Dexion Racing, BA Falcon 1m 26.8128s