Two-time MotoGP world champion Casey Stoner qualified 12th fastest for his debut V8 Supercars second-tier race on Friday in Adelaide.
Stoner, 27, backed up from Thursday’s top-10 qualifying finish by clocking a fastest lap of 1min.22.89sec, barely a second behind pole sitter Chaz Mostert (1:21.85) in the Dunlop Series.
Stoner was the biggest thing to hit the second-tier touring car category in its 13-year history when he ended “will he, won’t he” social media speculation by signing on for Triple Eight’s Red Bull Racing Holden team.
But he has created an extra buzz with his impressive efforts around the tough Adelaide street circuit.
Stoner tried to describe just how difficult it was to jump from two wheels to four on Thursday.
“Honestly, it’s like I’m starting again. I’m not really looking at it as a transition so much as starting from new,” he said.
“I bring a few bits of experience from MotoGP but two wheels to four is so different – it’s pretty much starting from scratch.”
Stoner is driving three-time V8 champion Craig Lowndes’ former Commodore in a bid to break into the top touring car division.
The season-opening Dunlop Series race starts at 6.05pm AEDT.
The round ends with a second race on Saturday.
The Dunlop Series is a support category for the V8 Supercars which begins with the first of two 250km races in Adelaide on Saturday.