WINTON BATTLE IGNITES THIS WEEKEND
19/7/2004 0:45 (Press Release) -
Ford Performance Racing (FPR) drivers Craig Lowndes and Glenn
Seton head to Victoria's Winton Raceway this weekend armed with two identical
FPR BA Falcon V8 Supercars and testing data for the first time this season.
After having completed the team's first two day test at the 3.1 kilometre
regional Victorian circuit early last week, FPR is ready to take part in a more
challenging second half of the 2004 season at this seventh of thirteen V8
Supercar rounds.
The completion of Seton's new Ford Credit FPV Falcon is a major step in the
right direction, with Seton and his CAT FPR Falcon equipped team mate Lowndes
now being able accurately compare set up notes at all remaining rounds,
starting with this weekend's fierce V8 Supercar battle that awaits at Winton
Raceway.
With Lowndes yet to win a V8 Supercar round at Winton and with his team mate
Seton having last won a race at this twisty circuit four years ago, the timing
is right for a welcome return to the podium by both FPR drivers.
#6 Craig Lowndes - "I'm looking forward to racing at Winton, particularly at
this time of year when it is very likely that it could get wet during the 300
kilometre race. This circuit has eluded me in a V8 Supercar and there's nothing
I'd like more than to change that this Sunday. I am happier now that we have
our first test done and we will be competing at Winton knowing which direction
we need to head in from the start."
#5 Glenn Seton - "We have the opportunity to make the most from the data gained
at our first test of the season so I am feeling more confident heading into the
Winton round compared to any of the other races this season. This will be my
first race in the new car and being identical to Craig's, we should be able to
take advantage of cross referencing data, giving us the ability to improve
faster from set up changes."
FPR Chief Engineer, John Russell - "Following our test at Winton the team has
had the chance to address a number of items that have produced our poor
reliability record this year. We were also able to gather valuable data to help
us understand and address the specific areas where we lack performance in the
chassis. Some of those can be addressed prior to this coming weekend. With this
in mind the team aims for improved car performance and race finishes"
FPR heads to the track for opening practice on Friday at 2:00pm, with a busy
day of practice, qualifying and the top ten shootout on Saturday starting at
9:25am. The fierce 100 lap race (with two compulsory pit stops) gets the green
light at 1:00pm on Sunday.
FPR FACT FILE - WINTON RACEWAY
Winton has been a happy hunting ground for Glenn Seton. The Ford Credit FPV
Falcon driver has appeared on the podium seven times in the sixteen years he
has competed at the rural Victorian circuit during Australian Touring Car
Championship (and more recently the V8 Supercar Championship Series) rounds.
This represents a podium strike-rate of 43 per cent.
Craig Lowndes has only competed at Winton six times in a V8 Supercar. The
regional Victorian circuit didn't host a round in Lowndes' debut year - 1996,
and the three-time V8 Supercar Champion missed the 1997 round when he raced in
Formula 3000 in Europe. While a Winton V8 Supercar win has eluded Lowndes, he
did win the track's Formula Ford round in 1993, his championship year in that
category, he also won the Victorian Formula Ford title at this venue in 1992.
Glenn Seton won the Winton round in both 1993 and 1994, clean-sweeping the then
two-race format. FPR will be hoping history repeats itself this year, as Seton
was followed home in 1994 by his teammate Alan Jones. The double V8 Supercar
Champion also scored the Pole position and a race victory at the venue in 2000.
2004 marks the 18th time that Australia's premier motor racing series has
visited Winton. Glenn Seton has competed at every Winton championship round
except the series' first visit to the venue in 1985.
Release Date: 19/07/2004
Ford Performance Racing
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