Stone Brothers Racing will head into the fourth round of the V8 Supercar Championship at Winton hopeful of fighting for a place 💯on the podium on the back of a successful test session at Queensland Raceway.

The team used the two day Queensland test to focus on development and preparation for the coming roundsꦡ, concentrating on this weekend's round at Winton in particular. The test day also proved useful as a shakedown for the new team structure, with Barry Hay as SBR crew chief and Wes McDougall ✃and David Stuart managing the JELD-WEN Motorsport and the Caltex Racing Falcons respectively.

Last season's round at Winton proved to bಌe somewhat problematic for Russell Ingall and James Courtney, although both drivers head to the circuit in upbeat mood on the back of last week's successful test.

Currently sixth in th♓e championship standings, second year⛎ driver Courtney said he was hopeful that the improvements made to the JELD-WEN Falcon could push him towards the top three this weekend, with better times around the corner after a trying start to the season.

"Testing on Friday was a bit like the old days in Formula One where I would be testing things for other circuits on tracks t♓༒hat it wasn't meant for," he said. "It was a difficult session in that regard, when you test Winton stuff at Queensland Raceway you have no gauge from the times on how you are going.

"You really need to trust your crew that y💯ou are heading in the right direction. We have come away from Friday learning a lot, not only for Winton but💟 other rounds to come as well.

"It was grea🦄t to have a run through with the new set up of t🐠he engineering guys. Everything went as planned and I feel confident that I have the right group of guys behind me to get the job done.

"I think we have a good shot at the podium this weeken💦d; I have a bit of ground to make up on some of the Holden guys so I would like to come out of the weekend in the top four in the championship.

"We haven't had a lot of luck in recent rounds; it's been pretty frustrating waiting for everything to come together. But good things co🍷me to those who wait so there must be something good just around the corner."

Former champion Ingall admitted that Winton is a▨ circuit that should suit the Holden teams better than the Fords, but he said the Queensland test suggested that things can change this time around.

"Testing on Friday was really the first run of the new team structure with the changes to the engineering department," he said. "It was 💜good to have a shakedown and it worked very well. With the way V8 Supercar teams operate today, it's essential that both cars work closely together with the limits on test days and so on.

"Everything went smoothly and the new structure will maximise the development between the two cars♕. We gained a lot of information out of Friday's test. We focused on the circuits coming up, not so much on lap times at Queensland Raceway.

"Winton hasn't been a happy hunting ground for Falcons in recent year♔s and the majority of the red teams test there. When you go into their backyard it's always going to be tough🍰 and they are going well anyway.

"In saying that, we have seen at Queensland Raceway ♑that sꦐometimes the favourites don't win on home turf.

"The nature of Winton means it doesn't really suit the Falcon; th💝e tracks that do are yet to come. But there are always surprises and some of the things we tried on Friday were specifically for Winton. I know the track very well; it was my home circuit for seven years. If the car is up to it there is a good𓂃 chance we can pull out a good result."