HIDDEN VALLEY - FACTS, FIGURES AND TRACK DESCRIPTION
21/5/2004 19:55 (Press Release) -
The following is a detailed lap of Darwins Hidden Valley Raceway to be used as the venue for the fourth round of the V8 Supercar Championship Series this weekend. Also find following thoughts, results and memorable moments relating to this venue from both Marcos Ambrose and Russell Ingall.
HIDDEN VALLEY RACEWAY, DARWIN A LAP WITH MARCOS AMBROSE
Hidden Valley is one of the most variable tracks on the schedule and it really all comes down to the weather. It is always hot in Darwin, but just how hot, can mean the difference in you approach to an entire weekend.
It is a pretty good feeling charging down the main straight, which is one of the longest in the series at 1.1km and pretty amazing when you consider the size of the circuit.
You can really stretch the legs of the Pirtek Falcon and as you charge towards turn one you know you have a pretty good overtaking opportunity if you get yourself in the right position.
You can really force guys to defend on this corner and there have been plenty who have got themselves into trouble on this part of the circuit.
This is a pretty flat second or third gear corner depending on the day and tyre conditions.
Turn one runs into turn two and on the exit of this the track flicks left and then right and you can take this flat out on good tyres.
It is then into the tight right hander, which you again take in second. This sets you up for the short shoot to the left-hand hairpin.
This part of the track is mega tight and very flat. The car can slide off the circuit very easily here if you are slightly off line because of all the marbles which build up during the day.
Good traction is important on the exit because you then short shift to third to get into the right-hander sweeper almost flat out.
This takes us into my favourite part of the circuit. You short change to fourth gear, kick left and then take the big sweeping left-hand bend up over the rise.
The car moves around a lot through here, but it is a section where you can make up a lot of time if you attack it.
As you head into the final corner there is a left and then right kink in the braking area. You need to bounce off the kerbs to get the car straight for the entry on to the straight.
A hot day in Darwin can really take its toll on your body and it is difficult to maintain your concentration.
The big long straight allows you to use all your horsepower, but at the same time you also need to be spot on with your set-up because of the tight, challenging bits.
A good lap in Darwin is very rewarding.
THOUGHTS ON HIDDEN VALLEY, DARWIN
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MARCOS AMBROSE PIRTEK RACING
Hidden Valley has an absolutely fantastic atmosphere and is one of my favourite meetings of the year. The whole city really gets behind the event and we are made feel so welcome. The races are tough with such high humidity, but it is easier to drink VB at the post-race party on Sunday night. Horsepower is very important with the long straight, which also creates plenty of opportunities to set up a pass.
MOST MEMOR ABLE MOMENT
This came during my first race there in 2001. At the back of the track there is a 24-hour pub, it smelt like a nightclub on the morning after. I could not work out what the smell was. Every time I went past all I could see were bodies lying on the ground and up against the fence. It was not until we went around on the victory parade lap that I realised what was going on. Darwin will always be a special place for me because it was the venue of my first championship round win. To come back and do it again last year and notch four in a row for Ford was also pretty special.
CHAMPIONSHIP RESULTS (After round 3 of 13)
Current Points: 532 (1st)
Debut: 2001
Starts: 42
Poles: 14 Eastern Creek (2004); Sandown, Oran Park, Queensland Raceway, Winton, Eastern Creek (2003); Phillip Island, Oran Park, Winton, Qld 500, Sandown (2002); Eastern Creek, Qld 500, Bathurst (2001)
Race wins: 13 (Last win Race 1, Pukekohe, New Zealand, 2004)
Round wins: 9 Adelaide Clipsal 500 (2004); Eastern Creek, Oran Park, Hidden Valley, Barbagallo, Winton, Eastern Creek (2003), Sandown (2002); Hidden Valley (2001)
HIDDEN VALLEY, DARWIN - RECORD
2003 Qualified 2nd; Race 1: 2nd; Race 2: 1st; Race 3: 1st; Overall 1st
2002 Qualified 3rd; Race 1: 3rd; Race 2: 9th; Race 3: 5th; Overall: 5th
2001 Qualified 3rd; Race 1: 2nd; Race 2: 4th; Race 3: 3rd; Overall: 1st
THOUGHTS ON HIDDEN VALLEY, DARWIN
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RUSSELL INGALL CALTEX HAVOLINE RACING
If you asked me a few years ago about going to Darwin to race I would have laughed, but as it has turned out, Hidden Valley has developed into one of the success stories of the championship. They have done an outstanding job on the circuit, considering half of it was built on the side of a hill. Each year it just seems to get better and better. This would be a great place to celebrate a win on Sunday night.
MEMORABLE MOMENT
Going backwards down the main straight after coming together with Greg Murphy in the opening race last year. Going in the wrong direction with the whole field racing towards you on one of the fastest parts of any race track in the country is not something you forget in a hurry. Doing a photo shoot next to an eight metre saltwater crocodile is also that remains pretty strong in my memory.
CHAMPIONSHIP RESULTS (After 3 of 13 rounds)
Current Points: 350 (7th)
Debut: 1996
Starts: 98
Poles: 1 Winton (2001)
Race wins: 23 (Last Win Gillette V8 Supercar Challenge, Surfers Paradise (Race 2), 2003)
Round wins: 10 Surfers Paradise (2003) Queensland Raceway (2003), Winton (2001); Qld 500 (1999); Lakeside, Mallala, Hidden Valley (1998); Phillip Island, Winton (1997); Calder (1996)
HIDDEN VALLEY, DARWIN RECORD
2003 Qualified 5th; Race 1: DNF; Race 2: 17th; Race 3: 8th; Overall: 18th
2002 Qualified 15th; Race 1: DNF; Race 2: DNS; Race 3: 9th; Overall: 28th
2001 Qualified 2nd; Race 1: 1st; Race 2: 22nd; Race 3: 9th; Overall: 6th
2000 Qualified 8th; Race 1: 6th; Race 2: DNF; Race 3: 10th; Overall: 11th
1999 Qualified 2nd; Race 1: 1st; Race 2: 1st; Race 3: 14th; Overall: 3rd
1998 Qualified 8th; Race 1: 13th; Race 2: 1st; Race 3: 1st; Overall: 1st
TRACK FACTS HIDDEN VALLEY
Venue: Hidden Valley Raceway, Darwin, NT
2003 Race format: Top 10 Shootout & 17-Lap race (Saturday); 2 x 35 Lap races (Sunday) Both Sunday races include compulsory tyre stop.
Circuit Length: 2.9km Front straight 1.1km
Circuit Direction: Anti-Clockwise
Maximum Speed: 260 km/h (Main Straight)
Average Speed: 151km/h
Qualifying Record: Garth Tander (2001) 1:08.4938
Lap Record: Jason Bright (2001) 1:09.0149
2004 CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS (After round 3 of 13)
1: Marcos Ambrose 532
2: Steve Richards 528
3: Greg Murphy 509
4: Rick Kelly 502
5: Jason Bright 457
6: Craig Baird 364
7: Russell Ingall 350
8: Paul Weel 347
9: Steve Johnson 341
10: John Bowe 326
11: Paul Morris 324
12: Garth Tander 322
13: Jason Bargwanna 306
14: Paul Radisich 294
15: Todd Kelly 269
16: Mark Skaife 254
17: David Besnard 254
18: Craig Lowndes 244
19: Max Wilson 236
20: Mark Winterbottom 234
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
F! riday 21 May
2:30pm - 3:05pm - Practice 1
Saturday 22 May
9:30am - 10:05am - Practice 2
11:40am - 12:00pm - Qualifying (Lower 50%)
12:05pm - 12:25pm - Qualifying (Upper 50%)
2:30pm - 3:00pm - Top 10 Shoot Out
4:30pm - 4:50pm - Race 1 (17 laps)
Sunday 23 May
9:40am - 10:00am Warm Up
11:45am - 12:30pm - Race 2 (35 laps)
2:30pm - 3:15 - Race 3 (35 laps)
TV TELECAST - Network Ten
Sunday
2:30pm - 5:00pm
Release Date: 17/05/2004
Stone Brothers Racing
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