Disappointment For Ellery At Opening Of V8 Supercar Championship
20/3/2004 20:45 (Press Release) -
The opening of the 2004 V8 Supercar Championship did not start according to plan for Steven Ellery with the Super Cheap Auto Racing Falcon not completing the first leg of the Clipsal 500 at Adelaide this afternoon.
After soaring into yesterday’s Top Ten Shootout, Ellery started from grid position eight. Ellery’s fellow Ford driver, Marcos Ambrose was the eventual winner of the 78 lap race.
Ellery’s trouble started on lap 18 when the Super Cheap Auto Racing Falcon was forced into the pits with a suspension problem.
“To not finish today’s race is bitterly disappointing. The Super Cheap Auto Racing Falcon was strong throughout practice and qualifying but unfortunately it didn’t happen for us in the race,” Ellery said.
“Our problems started early with a broken left rear shock absorber that forced the Super Cheap Auto Racing Falcon into the pits and go eight laps down on the V8 Supercar field.”
The Super Cheap Auto Team worked frantically in the pits for Ellery to return to the track and claim valuable championship points. After successfully doing so laps later Ellery retired from the race after a misadventure into the gravel pit on turn three.
“I was doing my best to claw back the laps lost earlier in the race, unfortunately I pushed a little too hard and ended up beached,” Ellery stated.
It was a case of history repeating itself for Ellery with a similar chain of events occurring to the Super Cheap Auto Racing team in 2003.
“Adelaide is a circuit which is not only tough on the drivers but also the cars. I have an unlucky record at this circuit and hopefully it can be reversed in the second race.”
Ellery will need to pick his way through the field for the second race with the Super Cheap Auto Racing Falcon starting the final leg of the Clipsal 500 tomorrow from the rear of the grid.
“Tomorrow is another day and luckily the Super Cheap Auto Racing Falcon did not sustain any major damage when it went into the gravel trap today” Ellery stated.
“The team will go over the car tonight and make some changes to provide the Super Cheap Auto Racing Falcon the strength to muscle the field tomorrow.”
Release Date: 20/03/2004
Super Cheap Auto Racing
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