FPR ARMED FOR BATTLE IN ADELAIDE
16/3/2004 5:29 (Press Release) -
Ford Performance Racing (FPR) is armed for the start of the
greatest battle of all when the 2004 Australian V8 Supercar Championship Series
starts at the exciting Adelaide Street Circuit this weekend.
The first of 13 V8 Supercar rounds that visit every Australian mainland state
and featuring two international races planned for New Zealand and China
(provisional), the 2004 Championship is set to be the most competitive and
challenging ever.
Adelaide's Clipsal 500 marks the team's second season with multiple Champion
drivers Craig Lowndes and Glenn Seton. The Australian Grand Prix V8 Supercar
showcase races enabled the team to compare the team's 2003 FPR Falcon set up
against a host of new and innovative engineering developments made for the 2004
cars. The benefits gained from back to back testing in V8 Supercar racing
conditions have proven highly valuable in preparing for this weekend's two
grueling 250 kilometre street races.
FPR drivers Craig Lowndes and Glenn Seton have kept busy since the Grand Prix,
with Lowndes working on the Seven Network's "Road Wars", program that commences
nationally on Saturday March 20 at 6:30pm. Seton has taken part in a host of
media and sponsor commitments, including the Melbourne launch of the 2004 V8
Supercar Series.
#6 Craig Lowndes - "The Grand Prix races displayed the depth that exists within
the Championship this season. With so many competitive drivers and teams, the
season opening races in Adelaide are going to be fantastic. I love the street
circuit and the entire event, it can be very hard work physically, but it can
also be very rewarding. I have enjoyed some great races on the Adelaide Street
Circuit and despite our Grand Prix showing, we do have a very strong car and I
am looking forward to it."
#5 Glenn Seton - "I rate this event equally with Bathurst as the best race in
the Championship. The atmosphere is fantastic and the competing on part of the
old Formula One circuit is a thrill for any driver. The Clipsal 500 is a very
challenging event as it is normally held in very high temperatures. The two 250
kilometre races this year are set to be the most competitive ever judging from
the pace of the Grand Prix weekend. The fans are in for a great weekend and I'm
eager to get the season off to a strong start in Adelaide."
FPR Chief Engineer, John Russell - "We look forward to starting the season in
Adelaide and having the opportunity to redress some of the issues that hampered
us at the Grand Prix. We also look forward to seeing where the team ranks
against its direct competition at the season opener."
FPR returns to the Adelaide Street Circuit for two Practice sessions on Friday
at 9:30am and 12:00pm, followed by qualifying at 2:05pm. The Clipsal 500 top
ten shootout is scheduled for 4:35pm. (All times local) The first 78 lap / 250
kilometre leg will take place at 2:00pm, followed by Sunday's second leg, also
starting at 2:00pm.
Press releases and images from the Clipsal 500 will be available from the FPR
on line media centre throughout the event - http://www.fpv.com.au/mediacentre
FPR CLIPSAL 500 FACT FILE
Craig Lowndes has the honour, shared with Mark Skaife, of winning the most
number of Adelaide 500 legs (individual races) at four.
Craig Lowndes has an extraordinary record in the Clipsal 500's first leg. He
won Saturday's 250 km race in the first three years of the Adelaide V8 Supercar
event. He also won the Sunday leg in 1999.
Ford Performance Racing's 2004 driver line-up features the two most successful
(currently competing) drivers in terms of championship round wins - Lowndes
(18) and Seton (17). When it comes to titles, Glenn Seton is the most
successful current Ford driver, having won the championship twice, in 1993 and
1997.
Entering the 2004 V8 Supercar Championship Series, Glenn Seton is Ford's most
experienced current driver with 175 rounds under his belt. This tally is three
more than his nearest rival, John Bowe, and just one less than the most
experienced driver in the field, Holden's Tony Longhurst.
2004 marks 15 years since Glenn Seton won the Touring Car support race at the
1989 Australian Grand Prix meeting on the Adelaide Street Circuit.
Release Date: 15/03/2004
Ford Performance Racing
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