They were hoping to give the Jesus Ute a good workout on the track, however the wet conditions meant testing opportunities were limited.
"I certainly got to practice fishtailing", laughs Andrew, "but that was about all!"
Although there was little chance to really put the Jesus Ute through its paces, Andrew says he's confident it's in great condition after a few months in the workshop.
"Sieders Racing look after the car for us," says Andrew. "They have been working since before Christmas to ensure the Jesus Ute is as fast and safe as it can be. I am disappointed we didn't get more of a run today, but I could feel that it's in great shape. After placing third last season I'm really looking forward to going hard in every round this year to finish higher up the podium in 2011."
The good news is Andrew's back has held out through today's shortened test session. This was his first attempt to drive the car since suffering a debilitating condition at the base of his spine early this year.
It was thought he may have to pull out of the Clipsal round, however after sitting in the car today, Andrew is feeling confident he can race in Adelaide.
"It didn't seize up," says Andrew, "which was a serious concern. I can certainly feel an improvement and although I would have liked more opportunity to regain some fitness in the lead up to the race, at this stage, being able to race at all is fantastic!"
The Jesus Racing team also took today's testing as an opportunity to show off their new livery. Material imported from the USA has been used on the Ute for 2011, the new look has certainly raised the bar for the other teams in the Yokohama V8 Ute Series.
The team heads to Broken Hill today where Andrew and Steve Peach will speak at several events over the weekend, then speak at two schools on Monday before heading to Adelaide to prepare for Round One next weekend.
