David Reynolds this time last year gave away his best opportunity to win a maiden V8 Supercar race at the Sucrogen Townsville 400.

This year the unpredictable but very fast Reynolds has again threatened to challenge his more accomplished Ford Performance Racing drivers Will Davison and Mark Winterbottom as they chase Jamie Whincup in the Championship.

It was only a practice day when most of the big guns left their artillery in the shed as Reynolds claimed fastest in practice in his Bottle-O Falcon, ahead of Tekno Autosport’s pair Michael Patrizi and Jonathon Webb.

Once this year already Reynolds has threatened at least a podium when at Phillip Island he started from pole position, led a majority of the race but then lost it all in a terrible pit stop.

The question now begs, is one of his favourite tracks the time the maverick will prevail?

“I’ve taken a different approach this weekend and be a better racing driver,” Reynolds said. “I want to drive the car so it looks after its tyres better. I’m sick of finishing fifth or sixth.”

Reynolds said the team had had issues with sharing a pit stop bay with Lucky Seven Racing but were working through it.

“They are going to do the best they can but I don’t think they are the only thing holding us back. They have hindered us in the races but we have other things we are also working on.”

Like Reynolds, Patrizi has been solid all year, along with team-mate and team boss Webb.

“Motorsport is all about equipment and these guys have got that. We are here today and we are very close. We’ve been in the top 10 the last few events but it’s Friday, not Saturday,” Patrizi said.

“We are a good team together. At the start of the year he (Webb) wanted a driver to push him. I spent the first part of the year not trying to hit the walls and keep the car straight. Now when I am ready to push I can push.”

Webb also liked the way the team was progressing with their Sargeant Security Commodores.

“The direction we are heading in this year has been great. We have had both cars in the top ten regularly in qualifying. We are not trying rush it though. We need all the pieces to fit right and the luck has also got to go our way,” Webb said.

It was a tough day for former Formula One World Champion Jacques Villeneuve who was slowest on the day as he adapts to the Championship having had no testing.

“It was a tough day, but there is a lot to learn; the track, the cars, using my left hand to shift, working on the seat, plus a lot going on today,” said Villenueve.

“The Pepsi Max Crew are all working really hard. Right now is the hard bit, hopefully we will get better throughout the weekend. But racing here this weekend, coming here this weekend, is mainly to learn how things work out here.

“The Townsville track is quite fun, it’s quite busy, you are doing something all the time. It’s a tough track to get used to the car because there is no margin for error.

“That makes the first day of driving the car quite difficult but it’s fun and I’m having a blast out there.”

Qualifying will be held at 11.20am local time tomorrow (Saturday) before the Armor All Top Ten Shootout at 1.10pm sorts the final grid positions.

Race 14 of the V8 Supercar Championship - a 72-lap, 200 kilometre race - will start at 3.35pm.

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