Motorsport: Come and get me, Tander taunts

Garth Tander in action during the first day of practice at the V8 Supercars in Hamilton. Photo / Alan Gibson

Garth Tander has thrown down the gauntlet before qualifying during practice yesterday for the fourth round of the Australian V8 Supercars in Hamilton.

The Toll Holden driver didn't show his hand early in the day and pulled out a fast lap towards the end of the final session.

"The car was considerably better this year straight out of the box," said Tander. "The car responded to the changes very well today but there are still a few weaknesses. To get pole tomorrow I'll just have to be faster than everyone else."

Kiwi Shane van Gisbergen stayed under the radar until the last lap then put in a flyer to finish third-fastest, just behind Jamie Whincup.

"Our car wasn't that strong out of the box and we needed the two sessions to get it going in the right direction," said Van Gisbergen. "It was pretty good at the end but I didn't quite get the best out of it. I just hope I'll be sitting in the middle tomorrow [at the after-race press conference]."

Greg Murphy was among the fastest in the first three sessions but came unstuck towards the end of the fourth. "We just put our second set of tyres on the car to do a fast lap, and on my first flyer coming out of turn eight I got a little too close to the wall and just clipped it with the wheel and broke the steering.

"A bit disappointing really, I made a mistake and that was it," he said.

Stone Brothers Racing used the New Zealand round of the championship to announce Van Gisbergen had signed a new two-deal with the Gold Coast-based outfit.

He's the youngest full-time driver in V8 Supercars and has been classed as "hot property" with many keeping an eye on him.

"This is what my dad and I have been aiming for. We've been getting better and better and have really settled in with the team over the years," said Van Gisbergen.

"The results have started to come, so when it came time to look at my future there was no reason to leave SBR. We had options from other teams but it never really entered my mind to make the switch."

SP Tools confirmed it will continue as naming rights sponsor of the #9 SP Tools Racing Falcon team until the end of 2012.

While the Australian V8 drivers will be attacking the circuit in anger today to sort out who sits where on the grid, the NZV8 drivers were going at it for real yesterday. Tim Edgell put his Falcon on pole with Kayne Scott beside him, followed by John McIntyre and Angus Fogg on row two.

Yesterday was Edgell's second pole for the season. Scott will have his eye on Edgell but is quietly confident.

The transtasman V8 Ute Challenge sees Kiwi Chris Pither on pole and with Aussie Kim Jane next to him. The second row is a repeat with Kiwi Colin Corkery and Aussie Charlie Kovacs beside each other.

Tander tops in practice

Australian Garth Tander (left) was fastest in practice yesterday for the Hamilton 400, the New Zealand round of the V8 Supercar Championship.

Tander, who was the overall winner in Hamilton two years ago, clocked 1m 23.2091s on the 3.4km street circuit.

Second fastest was compatriot and defending series champion Jamie Whincup, who won both races here last year. Whincup's time of 1:23.3350 made it a Holden one-two.

Third best was New Zealander Shane van Gisbergen with 1:23.3632, making him the quickest of the Ford contingent.

The two 59-lap races that make up the Hamilton 400 will be run today and tomorrow.