Volvo claims front row start in V8 Supercars debut

Volvo Polestar Racing driver Scott McLaughlin impressed by securing a front row grid start for the second V8 Supercars race at the Clipsal 500 in Adelaide. The young Kiwi was second fastest in the first ever qualifying session for the all-new Volvo S60 Polestar V8SC, just one tenth from pole position-man Craig Lowndes. ”This has been an amazing day, I am really pleased. A huge thanks to everyone in the team and we have an exciting day ahead of us tomorrow,” said McLaughlin. The 20-year-old was on pace all through practice to the first qualifying session where he was fifth fastest. Team mate and V8 Supercars newcomer Robert Dahlgren had a tough first ever qualifying run and will start from 21st position in the first race, just over one second from fastest time, and 25th for the second. ”It was a tough first qualifying, I just wasn’t able to get it right. But I never expected it to be easy, this is very different from anything I have driven before. I love it though and I can’t wait for the first race and continue to learn and process new information,” said Dahlgren. The first race of the weekend starts tomorrow at 16.20 local time with the second race at 17.50, set in twilight conditions. ”The qualifying result well exceeds our expectations. GRM has done a good job with the car and I am pleased with the performance of our engines. Race day tomorrow is of course a whole other deal, but we are very much looking forward to it,” said Christian Dahl, owner of Polestar. Video: Join Scott McLaughlin onboard for a lap around Adelaide.    Qualifying for Race 1 – Top 10 1 Jamie Whincup Holden Commodore 1:20.5849 2 Craig Lowndes Holden Commodore +0.1518 3 Mark Winterbottom Ford Falcon +0.2355 4 James Courtney Holden Commodore +0.2463 5 Scott McLaughlin Volvo S60 +0.2501 6 Shane Van Gisbergen Holden Commodore +0.2610 7 Todd Kelly Nissan Altima +0.3382 8 Scott Pye Holden Commodore +0.3630 9 Tim Slade Holden Commodore +0.3754 10 Fabian Coulthard Holden Commodore +4743 21 Robert Dahlgren Volvo S60 +1.1802   Qualifying for Race 2 – Top 10 1 Craig Lowndes Holden Commodore 1:20.4155 2 Scott McLaughlin Volvo S60 +0.1103 3 Jamie Whincup Holden Commodore +0.1544 4 Jason Bright Holden Commodore +0.2319 5 Mark Winterbottom Ford Falcon +0.2745 6 Lee Holdsworth Mercedes E63 AMG +0.2964 7 Michael Caruso Nissan Altima +0.3182 8 James Courtney Holden Commodore +0.3580 9 Scott Pye Ford Falcon +0.4053 10 Chaz Mostert Ford Falcon +0.4375 25 Robert Dahlgren Volvo S60 +1.3770 Complete results: http://bit.ly/1bnL9Z2   Clipsal 500 Adelaide – V8 Supercars Circuit: Adelaide Parklands street circuit Length: 3219 m Lap record (V8SC): 1:21.0507, Jamie Whincup (2012)   Schedule (Times in UTC +10.5H) Friday 28/2 10:15 – Practice 1 11:55 – Practice 2 13:40 – Practice 3 15:00 – Qualifying Race 1 15:25 – Qualifying Race 2   Saturday 1/3 13:50 – Practice 4 16:20 – Race 1 (39 laps) 17:50 – Race 2 (39 laps) Sunday 2/3 12:00 – Qualifying Race 3 12:35 – Top Ten Shootout 15:15 – Race 3 (78 laps)   TV Coverage Australia: http://www.v8supercars.com.au/view/tv-schedule Europe: http://www.motorstv.com Sweden: http://www.viasat.se/sport/motor Webstream: http://www.v8supercars.com.au/v8live/schedule]]>