Red Bull Racing Australia headed out to the Sydney.com V8 Supercars Test Day today to burn the first rubber of 2014. However, with the heavens opening several times throughout the day, crucial testing and data wrangling was made all the more difficult.
With a full deck of drivers on board, Paul “The CEO” Dumbrell swapped office chair for race seat for the first time this year, while Steve “Richo” Richards cut his first laps in the Red Bull Racing Australia Holden at Sydney Motorsport Park.
Richo wasn’t the only one taking new reins for the first time. David Cauchi, who has stepped up to the role of Car 1 Race Engineer this year, took to the prat perch and made his debut as the voice down the radio for J-Dub.
“Cauchi and I are a new team so we’re using today to iron out any wrinkles,” Jamie said.
“The weather conditions made comparisons challenging today but we’ve still got a list of things we need to work on between now and the Clipsal 500 so a big two weeks ahead getting everything sorted.”
Meanwhile teammate Lowndesy was happy to be back in his VF Commodore off the back of his epic win at the Bathurst 12 hour.
“Knowing that we’re racing here later in the year, it’s really important for us to fine tune the car, although today has been an awkward one with the wet and dry conditions,” Lowndes said.
“Overall it’s nice to be back in the car and circulating again and getting a feel for what it is.”
Lowndesy finished the day in fourth, J-Dub in 15th, with some valuable information gained in time for the first event of the year, the Clipsal 500, taking place on 27th Feb – 2nd March in Adelaide.
