Todd Kelly is putting together his V8 Supercar Championship together piece by piece before his smart Jack Daniel’s Racing crew make the ultimate switch to Nissan in 2013.
With a mix year along with younger brother Rick this year, Kelly saw some signs that the campaign is getting sunnier, even though the Perth weather was not as kind.
The renowned wet tracker was fastest in practice at the spectacular revamped Barbagallo Raceway today in trying conditions ahead of Tekno Autosport’s Jonathon Webb, sporting the Tour de Cure colours this weekend, and Enforcer Rusell Ingall in the Supercheap Commodore.
The results were jumbled on opening practice today with the steady drizzle. Kelly was fastest in two sessions today, the earlier practice in better conditions and then in the third of four sessions when the track was quite wet.
Championship leader Will Davison was fourth on the day.
Davison holds a 21-point lead over Jamie Whincup ahead of the round four action after snaffling up 94 per cent of the total points on offer to date (846 of 900). Whincup was sixth today from Fabian Coulthard, David Reynolds, Shane van Gisbergen and Steve Owen.
Only the legendary Mark Skaife (97.61 per cent in 2002) and two-time V8 champ and current NASCAR ace Marcos Ambrose (94.4 per cent in 2005) have boasted better stats than Davison in the last 10 years.
But Davison won't be taking anything for granted in Perth, especially after Friday's tough practice sessions with more rain expected.
Whincup - along with teammate Craig Lowndes - have won four of the last five Perth races, and the last five pole positions in WA.
"I don't know why it is (he is fast in the rain). But wet weather always spices things up," Kelly said. "I was a bit nervous before the practice session but the car was quick."
Apart from having a tilt at the 2012 championship, Kelly is also preparing for a landmark move to Nissan next season in which his team will field four cars.
"It is a bit of a balancing act," Kelly said
The V8 Supercars will return to Barbagallo Raceway tomorrow for qualifying at 12.05pm local time (2.25pm AEST) with Race 7 of the championship – over 50 laps – at 1.55pm local time (3.55pm AEST).
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