Kelly continues strong form
4/7/2004 11:49 (Press Release) -
After a win in this morning's first Konica Minolta V8 race and a fourth placing in the reverse grid race later in the day Team Fujitsu's Owen Kelly is eyeing off a round win.
With the retirement in the second race of championship leader Luke Youlden the series is again up for grabs.
"I've never given up on the championship, I always thought that I could still take it out, even with Luke (Youlden) eighty-odd points ahead of me,'" Owen Kelly said.
"Everyone has had problems at some stage of the championship, today it was Luke's turn.
"I have just kept focus on racing hard, if you can do that then hopefully the wins come your way.
"The winner of the championship should be winning races and be consistently fast, Luke hasn't done either of these this year.
"I've been closing in on Luke (in the championship race), obviously his retirement today was a bonus for us all and has opened up the championship."
Kelly will be starting from the front row in tomorrow's final race, one that he is aiming to win.
"I've probably got the advantage tomorrow starting in second place as there is more grip on the left hand side of the track," Kelly said.
"My starts have been OK this year so I'll be trying to get of the line as fast as I can and into the first turn in front of Andrew Jones.
"I want to win the round, to do that I've obviously got to finish the race but also end up in front of Jones, if I can do that I win, if I don't then I don't win the round."
Fellow Fujitsu driver Jose Fernandez has also done an outstanding job today, finishing the first race in seventh place and the second in eighth.
"I'm pleased with my efforts today, the Ford was better in the first race compared to the second but a lot of things were happening in that second race making conditions more difficult," Jose Fernandez said.
"I'm looking forward to tomorrow's final race, I've got a set of tyres that have only done four laps so there's lots of life in them.
"I don't want to jinx myself but with a good run I'm hoping to finish in the top five. If I can do that I will be very satisfied."
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