Zukanovic strong in practice for Wakefield Park
April 5, 2008
Marcus Zukanovic more than made up for the frustrations of the season opener at Adelaide six weeks ago, by stunning the establishment in the final of two practice sessions at Wakefield Park for round two of the Fujitsu V8 Supercar Series, the boy from Melbourne’s west setting the second fastest time in practice, topped only by former ‘main game’ star, Steve Owen.
“All right… “ Zukanovic beamed at the close of the second session, ’’it’s only practice, but we were all trying, and that proved that we have what it takes to run at the front. Apart from a couple of minor suspension tweaks, it’s as it came off the truck.. Fast!”
After setting the fourth fastest time (1:00.1004) in opening practice just seven tenths off opening round winner Owen (but just four tenths slower than second fastest Jack Perkins), Zukanovic backed up with an impressive second fastest in session two (59.2186), his best lap coming late in the session.
Owen remained at the top of the timesheets, his impressive 58.5385 a new practice lap record on the freshly resurfaced Wakefield circuit, a sign of things to come for qualifying.
“We’re very happy with that time,” Zukanovic beamed. “I honestly think I had a 59 dead in me, but with the traffic and some of the dust on the track, it was difficult to get a perfect lap. The mid 59 I did was so easy, the car is just about perfect.”
One important feature of Zukanovic’s lap was that it was completed on old rubber. “These are a set of Clipsal race tyres that we did some testing with at Winton prior to this round, so the car is behaving perfectly on old tyres..”
For qualifying the team had left the car as it had been set up for the second session, Zukanovic under instruction from Glenn Seton to set a quick time early before bolting on a second set of new Dunlops.
An early 59.4438 saw Marcus holding down fourth, before pitting for his second set of tyres. A slight flat spot evident on the right front showing how hard he was trying. Sadly the second set of tyres saw no early improvement, a late session stop for a change in pressures though allowing the No Fear supported driver to improve marginally to a 59.3972.
The look on his face post session said it all. “I don’t know what it is with me and qualifying.. I was in the box seat to start in the top five, but I just couldn’t put it together. I’ve always been a better racer than qualifier, but I would prefer to be further up the field…”
Qualifying: Fujitsu V8 Supercar Series Rnd#2 Wakefield Park
1. Steve Owen - VZ Commodore - 58.4392
2. Grant Denyer - BA Falcon - 58.7300
3. Dean Canto - BA Falcon - 58.8352
4. Jonathon Webb - BA Falcon - 58.9181
5. Jack Perkins - VZ Commodore - 59.0022
6. Mark McNally - VZ Commodore - 59.1883
7. Michael Trimble - VZ Commodore - 59.1951
8. David Reynolds - VZ Commodore - 59.1992
9. Tim Slade - VZ Commodore - 59.2523
10. Dale Wood - VZ Commodore - 59.3696
11. Marcus Zukanovic - No Fear VZ Commodore - 59.3972
The Fujitsu V8 Supercar Series is televised on Channel 7, check local guides for details. Round #3 of the 2008 Fujitsu Series is scheduled for Sandown (Melbourne) on April 4-6.
Action Racing is proudly supported by No Fear, DBA Brakes, Kevin Dennis HSV Centre, Mercedes Benz Trucks, Dandy Pre-Mix and Pirtek Dandenong.