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Golding on top with fastest ever Symmons Plains lap
VALVOLINE GRM driver James Golding has set Symmons Plains’ fastest ever lap on his way to topping the opening practice session for the 2022 S5000 Australian Drivers’ Championship today at AWC Race Tasmania.
Golding’s 48.4460s flyer was set near the end of the 30-minute session and is the fastest lap officially recorded at the iconic Tasmanian circuit – so far.
RESULTS: Practice 1
S5000 already owns the outright lap record at Symmons Plains: Joey Mawson breaking Alfie Costanzo’s 40-year-old record with a 49.4242s best in the second race at the same event last year.
However it now seems likely that his benchmark will be smashed this weekend with eight cars lapping beneath that time in practice.
Teams are yet to run new tyres – which they will save for Qualifying – which could see Australia’s fastest racing cars dip into the 47-second bracket tomorrow while setting the grid for race one.
Golding finished the session just 0.07s ahead of an impressive Tim Slade, who is making his S5000 debut this weekend.
Slade topped the first half of the session prior to Golding’s late flyer saw him jump on top.
Slade was in turn only 0.15s ahead of the reigning champion Mawson, with Versa Motorsport’s Cooper Webster just behind in fourth.
Tim Macrow, Kaleb Ngatoa – making his first visit to Tasmania – Josh Fife, Adam Garwood – the pair making their respective S5000 debuts this weekend – and Blake Purdie completed the runners.
Practice two commences at 2:50pm local time today, with live timing available via Natsoft Race Results.