Ford Racing Launches 2004 V8 Supercar Season And Announces Grid Of Fame
2/3/2004 15:28 (Press Release) -
Ford Racing is primed for the 2004 V8 Supercar season, with the aim of starting
the season on a high with victory at this weekend's Australian Grand Prix support
event.
Ford's 13-man line-up was unveiled at the Broadmeadows Head Quarters of the Ford
Motor Company in Australia today.
Ford enjoyed one of its most successful seasons in 2003 with nine wins from 13
championship rounds.
Leading the charge was champion winner Marcos Ambrose (Pirtek Racing), who took
the 2003 championship with six wins.
"It's been great to celebrate the championship over the last three months, now
it's time to get on with it and make it back-to-back," said Ambrose.
"This weekend is not part of the championship, but it's still important to do
well. If you can come away from the Grand Prix on a high the season will hopefully
go on from there.
"It's going to be a good battle at Albert Park, we have three races including
a 100km race on the Saturday, so the fans will get more V8 action than ever before
at the Grand Prix."
The man to watch will be Ambrose's Stone Brothers Racing teammate Russell Ingall
(Caltex Havoline Racing). Ingall has won eight individual races at the Grand
Prix, including a great debut for Ford last year with a win on the Saturday.
He was in front on Sunday when the race was stopped after two laps because of
an accident in the middle of the field.
"There are tracks at which you just click and this is one of them for me," said
Ingall.
"I'm looking forward to this weekend and to the entire season. Our Stone Brothers
Racing team is really strong and now that I've driven the Falcon for a year,
I'm more comfortable with it and the crew.
"I have a great challenge in beating my teammate, not to mention the other Ford
teams which have stepped up this year."
The visit to Broadmeadows was highlighted with the announcement of the Ford Racing
Grid of Fame by Vice President of Sales and Marketing Bruce McDonald.
Different to most sporting Halls of Fame, the Ford Racing Grid of Fame recognises
not just a person, but also an iconic car that has played a major role in Ford's
racing heritage.
Announced by outgoing President of Ford Australia Geoff Polites, the 2004 inductees
are the late Howard Marsden and Ford's famous GT-HO Falcon were
Known as the father of Ford Racing in Australia, Marsden masterminded Ford's
racing operation in the early 1970s including the GT-HO era. After running programs
for other manufacturers in the late 1970s and '80s, he returned to Ford in the
1990s becoming Ford Racing General Manager in 1999.
Following Ford's lean spell on the track, Marsden focused his attention on making
the BA Falcon a winner. The championship success of Marcos Ambrose and Stone
Brothers Racing in 2003 was true testimony to that.
The name Howard Marsden was part of motor racing for over 40 years and his passing
in August 2003 was felt throughout the world.
The XW and XY GT-HO Falcon was a fixture on Australian racetracks from 1969 through
to 1973. The phase 1, 2 and 3 was the backbone of Ford's attack and it scored
back-to-back wins for Allan Moffat at Bathurst in 1970 and '71. The GT-HO took
six championship round wins and Moffat drove it to the 1973 Touring Car title.
On display at Broadmeadows was the late Ian "Pete" Geoghegan's GT-HO Super Falcon.
This was one of two cars built by Ford Special Vehicles (the other for Moffat)
in 1970. Even today the GT-HO Super Falcon program is remembered as one of Ford's
most ambitious projects in Australian motor racing.
Renowned Queensland car enthusiast David Bowden who owns the GT-HO Super Falcon
was on hand for the event. Of Bowden's extensive collection of famous Australian
racecars, this is his favourite. Since getting his hands on the GT-HO Super Falcon
in 1983 Bowden has spent in excess of $100,000 restoring it to original condition,
completed in 1995.
The V8 Supercars hit the Albert Park track on Thursday for practice, qualifying
and for the first time at this event a Top-10 Shootout at 4pm.
The opening 10-lap race is set down for 3.25pm Friday, the 100km (19-lap) second
race is on Saturday at 4pm, with the final 10-lap race on Sunday morning at 10.35am.
Ford Racing V8 Supercar line-up for the Australian Grand Prix support event
#1 Marcos Ambrose Pirtek Racing
#5 Glenn Seton Ford Performance Racing
#6 Craig Lowndes Ford Performance Racing
#9 Russell Ingall Caltex Havoline Racing
#10 Jason Bargwanna Orrcon Steel Racing
#20 Mark Winterbottom Orrcon Steel Racing
#12 John Bowe Brad Jones Racing
#21 Brad Jones Brad Jones Racing
#17 Steven Johnson Shell Helix Racing
#18 Warren Luff Shell Helix Racing
#31 Steve Ellery Super Cheap Auto Racing
#77 Max Wilson Team Betta Electrical
#88 Paul Radisich Team Betta Electrical
Details for Australian Grand Prix Support Event
Top 10 Shootout - Thursday 4 March - 4pm
Race 1 (10 laps - 53km) - Friday 5 March - 3.25pm
Race 2 (19 laps - 100.7km) - Saturday 6 March - 4pm
Race 3 (10 laps - 53km) - Sunday 7 March 10.35am
Circuit: Albert Park Grand Prix Circuit, Victoria
Length: 5.3km
Estimated top speed: 275km/h - Pit Straight
Estimated average speed: 145 km/h
Release Date: 2/03/2004
Ford Racing Australia
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