Morris happy as 'Hercules' hits track.

Paul Morris Motorsport made an encouraging on-track debut with its new Sirromet Wines-backed Holden VE Commodore as preparation for the 2007 season opener in Adelaide got underway at Queensland Raceway.

Owner-driver Morris completed 61 incident-free laps with the new car - nicknamed 'Hercules' to continue PMM's tradition of naming the cars it designs and builds in alphabetical order after Astro, Bam Bam, Colin, Daisy, Earnhardt, Frank, and Gidget - clocking a best lap of 1min 11.49secs that proved to be just 0.49secs shy of the circuit's race lap record held by Garth Tander.

"My team worked through the night until 4am Friday morning to finish the new VE and have it ready to test," a happy Morris reported, "Everyone put in long hours the last few weeks and there was a feeling of great satisfaction when the car rolled down pit-lane and out onto the track for the first time.

"We ran a systems check, and then played around with ride heights, trying to get the best aerodynamic balance. There was a bit of understeer to start with, but we dialled that out, and the driveability of the engine feels better through the whole range. The VE had a completely different build process compared to the others we've made before, but this car looks great with the new white warpaint."

New team-mate Fabian Coulthard also tested the VZ Commodore he will drive in this year's 14-round championship, getting 58 laps under his belt with a best time of 1min 12.64secs. The 24-year old New Zealander had not driven a V8 Supercar since the 2006 Bathurst endurance race in October, and only has ten V8 championship rounds to his name, spread over the past three years, but reckoned he was back in the swing of things by the end of the test.

"I've been racing Porsches in New Zealand over the summer, and this test was the first time in five months that I've been behind the wheel of a V8 Supercar," he confirmed, "The test was mainly about reacquainting myself with these cars, and I got some valuable track time and worked my way into it. By the end of the day, I felt more comfortable, which was the aim of the exercise.

"The team ran the various checks that needed to be done, so it was good preparation for Adelaide and the season ahead. I'm grateful for this opportunity to do a full season as, in the past, it's been tough turning up to Sandown, Bathurst and a few other races and driving against people who are V8 Supercar regulars. This year, I will be on a more level playing field and, long-term, my aim is to win races."