FPR Heads To First Of Three Sydney V8 Supercar Rounds
4/4/2004 8:15 (Press Release) -
Ford Performance Racing (FPR) heads to Sydney's Eastern Creek Raceway this weekend seeking a stronger performance from the team's two BA Falcon V8 Supercars following their single top ten result at the season opener in Adelaide a fortnight ago.
The team has used the limited time available between these opening rounds to thoroughly investigate and address the engine component failures that hampered CAT FPR Falcon driver Craig Lowndes' efforts in Adelaide, while continuing the team's chassis development work for this Sunday's first of three Sydney based V8 Supercar rounds this season.
Eastern Creek Raceway was one of the team's three podium finishing venues last season for triple Champion driver Lowndes. The team heads to the 3.9 kilometre Western Sydney circuit with the benefit of prior experience and valuable data to ensure a stronger performance. This will be essential for Lowndes, who has yet to start his Championship points tally for season 2004.
Ford Credit FPV Falcon driver Glenn Seton displayed excellent form in Adelaide, gaining the team's first points of the season. The V8 Supercar statesman is eager to prove that he and the team has much more to deliver in 2004 with a strong performance at Eastern Creek, where he was undefeated in three annual Triple Challenge touring car events held at the venue from 1992 to 1994.
The second round of the 2004 V8 Supercar Championship Series will be another physically demanding challenge, as it will be decided by a single 300 kilometre race on the Sunday. Practice, qualifying and the top ten shootout takes place on Saturday. There will be a single 90 minute practice session at Eastern Creek this Friday.
#6 Craig Lowndes - "The team has spent the time since Adelaide addressing the engine problems that we endured there. As a result of this, we are heading to Eastern Creek in a much more positive state of mind. This is one of my favourite rounds and we raced strongly there last season, so we should be much more competitive this weekend. I need to start my climb up the Championship ladder at this round."
#5 Glenn Seton - "I always like racing at Eastern Creek as I have enjoyed a lot of success there. My car was a lot more competitive in Adelaide than in the past, so hopefully we can keep building on our overall performance with the aim of gaining a podium finish in Sunday's 300 kilometre enduro."
FPR Chief Engineer, John Russell - "After the disappointment of Adelaide, we wish to redress the balance at Eastern Creek. We believe that we have addressed the major engine issues that troubled us in Adelaide and we look forward to an exciting weekend in Sydney."
FPR FACT FILE - EASTERN CREEK
- Craig Lowndes has never finished lower than sixth at the Eastern Creek round, including finishing on the podium three times, most recently in last year’s corresponding round.
- Eastern Creek holds a special place in Craig Lowndes’ heart, as the venue where he won on Championship debut in 1996. Interestingly, Lowndes’ first round win came on the Eastern Creek short circuit, which has not been used since, but will rejoin the series for December’s Main Event / final round of the 2004 Championship.
- Glenn Seton is equal with Mark Skaife as the most successful Touring Car driver at Eastern Creek. Both Seton and Skaife have won five events at the Sydney track. Seton’s tally includes two Shell Championship Series’ rounds
(1993 and 1997). Both of Seton's Eastern Creek round victories came during his two Championship years.
- Glenn Seton’s success at Eastern Creek also includes a hat-trick of Winfield Triple Challenge titles from 1992-94. The Triple Challenge was the forerunner to the Albert Park non-championship races as the pre Touring Car season shakedown meeting.
- Luckily, Glenn Seton is not superstitious - as Round 2 of the 2004 V8 Supercar Championship Series will be his 13th Championship visit to Eastern Creek. It will also be Craig Lowndes’ ninth start at the Sydney circuit.
Release Date: 29/03/2004
Ford Performance Racing
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