Bright becomes first multiple winner of the series
13/6/2004 22:38 (Press Release) -
Holden’s Jason Bright became the first man to win two rounds of the V8 Supercar Championship Series in 2004 as the season shapes up as the most exhilarating and competitive racing on record.
Bright won both of the two races at Barbagallo Raceway in Perth today, adding to his second in the first race of yesterday to take the round from current series champion Marcos Ambrose and young gun Rick Kelly.
Ambrose salvaged his weekend with the drive of the year so far yesterday when he worked his way from 21st on the grid to third place, then followed it up with a fourth and a third. Kelly was fourth, second and fourth for the weekend.
It meant Ambrose (872) ultimately reassumed the championship lead from Kelly (822), Steven Richards (820), Greg Murphy (811) and Bright (783).
Ambrose admitted afterwards to feeling lonely at the top. His car is the only Ford in the top five and is constantly being battered on the track by Commodores.
“There’s no doubt I am getting picked on out there,” Ambrose said.
“I haven’t got many friends out there at the moment at the front of the field. I’m trying hard but it’s tough. They (rival drivers) are racing tough.”
All three championship leaders agreed that the series was wide open and that a close finish was very much on the cards.
“There are six, seven or eight … perhaps even a dozen … cars out there that can win on any weekend,” said Ambrose. “That’s a great thing.”
Bright was confident he will be one of those challenging for the championship. His car has been consistently fast all year with wins in the non-championship event at the Australian Grand Prix, in New Zealand and now Perth.
“We were in a better position points-wise last year but I don’t think we can complain about our competitiveness at all,” Bright said.
“We will definitely be somewhere near.”
Kelly, the youngest driver at 21, was soaking up a remarkable start to his first season. He is one of the most gifted drivers in the series learning the ropes.
“I’m pretty stoked to be second. We have got a lot more to come for the rest of the year. I’d love to be challenging Marcos, or whoever the leader is, at the end of the year,” he said.
“I’m giving it my best shot at the moment but these guys do have a lot more experience than me.”
Ambrose, who was warned by six-time champion Mark Skaife to ‘watch his mirrors’ before the race has been doing exactly that. Skaife won his first race of the year at this event but a terrible mistake cost him any chance today.
He was given a ‘drive through’ penalty in race two for exceeding the speed in pit lane – by 7km/h.
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