ORRCON RACING GEARING UP FOR CHAMPIONSHIP OPENER
16/3/2004 5:34 (Press Release) -
Entering last year’s Clipsal 500 event Mark Winterbottom was the wonderkid in the Konica V8 Championship. This year he is the up and coming star making his Championship debut for Orrcon Racing.
Only three years ago Winterbottom was racing karts at the top level in the country and has since graduated through to Formula Ford’s, Konica V8’s and now he is with Larkham Motor Sport in the big league of V8 Supercar competition.
While he may have dominated the Konica event in Adelaide last year Winterbottom knows that it wont be as easy this weekend.
“Last year I had a dream run qualifying second and then driving my own race to win quite easy but this year is a whole different ball game,” said Winterbottom.
“As I found out at the Grand Prix in Melbourne it is a whole new learning experience racing against drivers who have been around the game a lot longer than what I have.
“I enjoy the Adelaide layout and after sorting the minor dramas we had in Melbourne with the set up on our Orrcon Falcon I am aiming for a good result and gain more valuable experience.
“Although I have just come from winning a Championship I am a realist my goal this year is to continually improve throughout the year with my first aim being to make the shootout.”
Winterbottom’s Orrcon Racing teammate Jason Bargwanna is confident entering the Championship opener this weekend
While this is the first Clipsal 500 event for Winterbottom his Orrcon Racing teammate Jason Bargwanna has competed in all five Clipsal 500 events that have been held around the 3.22km Adelaide street circuit.
At the Grand Prix Non-Championship event Bargwanna was the highest placed Ford over the weekend. His fifth place at the Grand Prix added to the consistent finish he had in the final two rounds of last year’s Championship making it three top 5 results in a row.
“While the result at the Grand Prix was a good result we can’t be resting on our laurels as the serious business starts this weekend and everyone will be trying that little bit harder,” said Bargwanna.
“The Championship is all about consistency and over our past three races we have proved that we can be consistent so we have to continue that form this weekend and work our way to the front.
“My first aim is to be on the podium and then continue that podium crawl throughout the Championship.
“I have tasted the champagne at Adelaide before and damn it tastes good.”
The Clipsal 500 is Australia’s largest motorsport festival beginning on Thursday March 18 with the V8 Supercars having their first practice session on Friday Morning at 9:30am.
TRACK FACTS – ADELAIDE STREET CIRCUIT, ADELAIDE
Venue: Parklands, Adelaide, South Australia
2004 Race format: Top 10 Shootout, Race 1 – 78 Laps (Saturday 2pm); Race 2 - 78 Laps (Sunday 2pm);
Circuit Length: 3.22km
Circuit Direction: Clockwise
Average Speed: 130kph
Maximum Speed: 250kph
Qualifying Record: Mark Skaife (Holden VX Commodore, 2002) 1.22.1273
Lap Record: Mark Skaife (Holden VY Commodore, 2003) 1.23.2731
JASON BARGWANNA AT THE CLIPSAL 500
Highest finish: 3rd – Race 2, 2000
Best Qualifying position: 8th – 2000
2003
Qualifying: 23rd Race One 15th Race Two 19th Overall 16th
MARK WINTERBOTTOM AT THE CLIPSAL 500
2003
Konica V8 Support Race
Qualifying: 2nd Race: 1st
2003 RESULTS
1st – Mark Skaife
2nd – Steven Richards
3rd – Jason Bright
WEEKEND SCHEDULE - ROUND 1, 2004
V8 SUPERCARS
Friday
9:30am – 10:05am – Practice 1
12:00pm – 12:35am – Practice 2
2:05pm – 2:25pm – Qualifying Lower 50%
2:30pm – 2:50pm – Qualifying Upper 50%
4:35pm – 5:05pm - Top 10 Shootout
Saturday
11:10am – 11:30am - Warm up
1:30pm – 1:45pm - Cars to grid
2:00pm- 4:15pm - Race 1 - 78 laps
Sunday
1! 0:15am – 10:35am - Warm up
11:15am – 11:25am – Drivers Parade
1:30pm – 1:45pm - Cars to grid
2:00pm- 4:15pm - Race 1 - 78 laps
TV TELECAST - NETWORK TEN
Saturday March 20
1pm-5pm
Sunday March 21
1pm-5pm
Release Date: 15/03/2004
Larkham Orrcon Racing
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