![Fabian Coulthard](https://speedcafe.us/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Fabian-Coulthard-344x242.png)
Fabian Coulthard made the best of wet conditions to top the morning warm-up at the Wilson Security Sandown 500.
A wet track greeted the drivers for the start of the warm-up, with drizzle prevailing throughout the 20 minutes.
Times started in the 1:25s before steadily improving. Coulthard’s 1:18.47s best proved 0.7s quicker than second quickest man Matt Campbell.
The performance proved a boost for Coulthard after a frustrating Saturday that sees the #66 DJR Team Penske Ford starting 11th.
“It was relatively easy, I was really happy with the car,” smiled Coulthard.
“It’s surprising because we haven’t driven this car a hell of a lot in the rain.
“If we’ve got a car like that and it rains all day I think we’re in with a shot.
“I just want the weather to be consistent throughout the day so that the race doesn’t become a lottery.”
Rookie Campbell was the star of the session in the #7 Nissan Altima, proving among the pace-setters before handing over to primary driver Todd Kelly.
“Matt hadn’t done any driving in the wet before so we thought we’d leave him in for the whole session,” explained Kelly, who had a late off at Turn 11.
“It wasn’t too long and he was the fastest out there so we thought we’d put me in the car to get a few laps.
“It looks like it might dry out but we’re hoping for rain because we’ve got a good wet car.”
The Scott McLaughlin/David Wall GRM Volvo, David Reynolds/Craig Baird Erebus Holden and Scott Pye/Tony D’Alberto Penske Ford completed the top five.
The warm-up ran green throughout despite several tasting the grass.
Among them was noted wet weather master Shane van Gisbergen, who ran off at Turn 11 before later engaging in a side-to-side duel with compatriot Richie Stanaway on the front straight.
The 161 lap Wilson Security Sandown 500 will get underway at 1315 local time.
Result: Virgin Australia Supercars Championship Wilson Security Sandown 500 Warm-up
1 | DJR Team Penske | F.Coulthard/L.Youlden | Ford Falcon FG/X | 1:18.47 | |
2 | carsales Racing | T.Kelly/M.Campbell | Nissan Altima | 1:19.17 | 00.70 |
3 | Wilson Security Racing GRM | S.McLaughlin/D.Wall | Volvo S60 | 1:19.21 | 00.74 |
4 | Erebus Motorsport Penrite | D.Reynolds/C.Baird | Holden Commodore VF | 1:19.30 | 00.83 |
5 | DJR Team Penske | S.Pye/T.D’Alberto | Ford Falcon FG/X | 1:19.55 | 01.08 |
6 | Holden Racing Team | J.Courtney/J.Perkins | Holden Commodore VF | 1:19.57 | 01.09 |
7 | Red Bull Racing Australia | J.Whincup/P.Dumbrell | Holden Commodore VF | 1:19.69 | 01.21 |
8 | Holden Racing Team | G.Tander/W.Luff | Holden Commodore VF | 1:19.79 | 01.31 |
9 | Preston Hire Racing | L.Holdsworth/K.Reindler | Holden Commodore VF | 1:20.03 | 01.56 |
10 | Red Bull Racing Australia | S.Van Gisbergen/A.Premat | Holden Commodore VF | 1:20.05 | 01.58 |
11 | The Bottle-O Racing Team | M.Winterbottom/D.Canto | Ford Falcon FG/X | 1:20.16 | 01.68 |
12 | TeamVortex | C.Lowndes/S.Richards | Holden Commodore VF | 1:20.35 | 01.88 |
13 | Super Black Racing | C.Pither/R.Stanaway | Ford Falcon FG/X | 1:20.39 | 01.92 |
14 | Sengled Motorsport | R.Kelly/R.Ingall | Nissan Altima | 1:20.45 | 01.97 |
15 | Supercheap Auto Racing | C.Mostert/S.Owen | Ford Falcon FG/X | 1:20.62 | 02.15 |
16 | Team Darrell Lea STIX | W.Davison/J.Webb | Holden Commodore VF | 1:20.66 | 02.19 |
17 | Freightliner Racing | T.Slade/A.Walsh | Holden Commodore VF | 1:21.11 | 02.64 |
18 | Nissan Motorsport | M.Caruso/D.Fiore | Nissan Altima | 1:21.31 | 02.83 |
19 | Team BOC | J.Bright/A.Jones | Holden Commodore VF | 1:21.57 | 03.10 |
20 | Repair Management Aust Racing | N.Percat/C.McConville | Holden Commodore VF | 1:21.66 | 03.19 |
21 | Team Cooldrive | T.Blanchard/M.Jones | Holden Commodore VF | 1:21.82 | 03.35 |
22 | Monster Energy Racing | C.Waters/J.Le Brocq | Ford Falcon FG/X | 1:21.82 | 03.35 |
23 | Plus Fitness Racing | A.Heimgartner/A.Russell | Holden Commodore VF | 1:21.84 | 03.36 |
24 | Wilson Security Racing GRM | J.Moffat/J.Golding | Volvo S60 | 1:21.99 | 03.51 |
25 | GB Galvanizing Racing | D.Wood/D.Russell | Nissan Altima | 1:22.84 | 04.36 |
26 | Erebus Motorsport | S.Davies/C.van der Drift | Holden Commodore VF | 1:23.74 | 05.27 |