20 September 2019 | News

Macrow fastest, Barrichello second in second S5000 practice

A first-lap spin did not stop Tim Macrow extending his run at the top of the S5000 field at Sandown Park, as former F1 racer Rubens Barrichello started to hunt him down.

Macrow trimmed the benchmark time to 1 minute 6.4195 seconds during the second practice session, while Barrichello improved from seventh to second at 1:06.9593, with John Martin in third on 1:07.0014.

There were a couple of dramas with spins, on a track that was slippery in places, and many of the drivers stopped for a tune-up when the session was stopped briefly when Michael Gibson ran off the road.

Even Macrow, who has the most experience in the V8-powered single-seaters, gave in to temptation.

“I wanted to see how far I could push it. And I went a bit too far,” laughs Macrow.

“I spun. On the first lap.”

But he, like everyone at Sandown, is intent on making a good first impression and improving through the “There is a little more in it. We’re leaving a bit in the bank,” he says.

“It was pretty slippery out there and you have to work up to it.”

Barrichello could not stop smiling and admits he is still learning the bumps and high-speed corners at Sandown.

“The car felt much better in P2. I got quicker, so that’s good,” he says.

“In the first session the car was definitely taking me around, and in the second session I was taking more control. And the smile comes to my face. It’s a great feeling to be able to conquer the world.”

For Martin, who is doing double-duty in the TCR Australia Series, the speed came later in the day as he tweaked his car.

“No-one needs to be a hero today,” Martin says.

“In the first session we struggled a little bit, but we reversed a few things. There is more room in it everywhere.

“But it’s about feeling it out, and hopefully it is dry tomorrow and we can take it from there.”