Penrite Racing on Pole Position for Melbourne 400 opening race

Thursday, April 7

Beaurepaires Melbourne 400

Australian Grand Prix, Albert Park

Penrite Racing’s David Reynolds has claimed the teams first pole position of 2022 in an uplifting opening day at the Melbourne 400. 

Reynolds put in an early flying lap to top the time sheets before a red flag for a Jake Kostecki crash brought an end to the session, leaving Reynolds to claim pole position for championship Race 6. 

Lee Holdsworth validated the pace of the Penrite Racing Ford Mustang’s with a P5 grid spot for the opening race. 

In Qualifying for championship Race 7 straight after Reynolds claimed another front row start with P2, while Holdsworth could only manage P15.

Earlier in Practice, Reynolds and Holdsworth kept it clean while rival drivers struck trouble getting accustomed to the new Albert Park layout. 

 

Car #26 Penrite Racing driver, David Reynolds: “I’m a bit besides myself to be starting this far up the grid. This result is  incredible for us, at the start of that session I would have been happy with top 10 because this is supposed to be one of our weakest tracks.”

“I’m really looking forward to the first race tomorrow. It might be hard to pass with the new layout and longer straights, It will be crucial to not cook the tyres by sliding around too much.” 

“I really like the circuit changes because it’s so much faster then the old version. Turn 5 has always highlights mistakes more so I think that’s why the rookies hit trouble today and we had so many red flags.”

“I love the Australian Grand Prix event, I live just across the road and I love this circuit.”

 

Car #10 Penrite Racing driver, Lee Holdsworth: “We had some issues with the car being loose on entry in the practice sessions that we had to work around for our car set up.”

“Qualifying P5 for the first race is my best so far this season so I’m happy with that and equally as happy for the team for Dave on pole position.

“The balance wasn’t as good for the second qualifying, so there’s still a lot of improvement in my car that we’ll work at overnight.

“I really like the new circuit, it’s so fast and flowing which will make tyre management crucial in the four races this weekend.”

 

Qualifying for championship Race 7

David Reynolds: P2

Lee Holdsworth: P15

 

Qualifying for championship Race 6

Reynolds: P1

Holdsworth: P5

 

Practice 2

Reynolds: P10

Holdsworth: P12

 

Practice 1 

Reynolds: P4

Holdsworth: P7

 

The first of four sprint races at the Beaurepaires Melbourne 400 will begin at 2.20pm (local) on Friday, April 8.