It was the fastest lap ever recorded around Symmons Plains but won’t count

A motorsport young gun clocked the fastest lap ever around Symmons Plains – but here’s why it doesn’t count.

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FORMER Supercar star Lee Holdsworth set the fastest time for the opening round one of the Australian TCR series at Symmons Plains on Monday while another Supercars driver clocked the fastest lap ever recorded around Tasmania’s premier track.

Team Valvoline GRM driver James Golding set an eye-watering 49.34 seconds in his S5000 open-wheeler, well beneath Alf Costanzo’s 41-year-old race lap record of 50.16s in a Formula 5000.

Former Supercars driver is the man to beat in TCR race one at Symmons Plains

However, Golding, 25, of Victoria, will not hold the official lap record – it can only go into the record books if it happens in a race.

Officials forecast times to tumble in qualifying and race one.

“It felt good – it was a great way to start the weekend,” Golding said.

James Golding

With 11 cars in the field and the open-wheelers lightning-quick, Golding hopes for a clean-getaway, particularly heading into Symmons Plains’ signature hair pin for the first time.

“It’s very fast going into there so I’m hoping everyone is going to be smart – if you miss your braking mark you’re going to clean up one or two cars.

“It would be ideal to start at the front and keep out of the carnage.”

James Golding at Symmons Plains in his S5000. Picture: Angryman Photography

Holdsworth led a trio of Alfas that dominated practice ahead of the opening race.

“The track was much hotter in the second sessions so there was less grip and more wheel spin,” Holdsworth said.

“The team is doing a really good job tuning the cars and we’re tacking well at the moment but it’s still a massive learning process.

“The more laps I do the more knowledgeable I will be and the more refined my technique will get.”

The former Tickford Racing Supercars driver clocked 55.9336-seconds to top the timesheets, while fellow-Victorian Jay Hanson (56.1944) and NSW driver Jordan Cox (56.2204) were best of the rest.

Supercars driver and 2014 Bathurst 1000 champion Chaz Mostert was fifth-fastest in his Audi RS3 (56.2958) and former Supercars pilot Michael Caruso was close behind in his Alfa Romeo (56.3275).

Youngster Ben Bargwanna (56.6614) won bragging rights over his dad, former Bathurst 1000 champion Jason Bargwanna (56.6614), in session two, with both driving Peugeot 308 TCRs.

Another Supercars veteran, James Moffat, was 14th fastest (56.7775) in his Renault Megane RS.

Home town hero John Bowe qualified on pole for Touring Car Masters race, placing the two-time Bathurst winner in a perfect position to win his 100th TCM race.