Orrcon Racing - Serious improvers and top ten contenders
14/8/2004 15:21 (Press Release) -
Orrcon Racing turned more than just a few heads with their outright speed at the previous round of the V8 Supercar Championship at Winton, Victoria with Jason Bargwanna setting the second fastest time during qualifying and continuing this consistent speed throughout the 300km race.
This weekend Orrcon Racing focusing on the next challenge, Round Eight of the V8 Supercar Championship to be held at Sydney’s Oran Park.
The pace shown by Bargwanna came as no surprise to the hard working team behind the scenes at Orrcon Racing who have been chipping away and forging themselves as the serious improvers and top ten Championship contenders.
During their first year as a two car operation last year Orrcon Racing recorded two top ten qualifying efforts and finished inside the top ten on seven occasions throughout the year.
Such has been the improvement throughout all levels of the team already this year in a matter of the seven rounds Orrcon Racing has started in more top ten shootouts than the entire year in 2003.
Complimenting this qualifying effort is the team’s race results by Bargwanna and fellow Orrcon Racing team mate Mark Winterbottom with the pair crossing the line inside the top ten on nine occasions.
In the past Bargwanna has tasted success at across a numerous categories including Formula Vee, Ford and Brabham at Oran Park. His best results in the V8 Supercar Championship came in 1998 finishing third in two of the three races.
“Coming from a motorsport family in New South Wales Oran Park was apparently the first track that I attended after coming out of hospital as a baby, not that I can remember that day” said Bargwanna.
“Since beginning my racing career numerous years later Oran Park has been a track where I have been tasted success at across a variety of categories.
“Oran Park is a ripper of a circuit, it has plenty of character and you are always busy behind the wheel, it is very unique in its layout and one that I always enjoy the challenge at.
“Last year it was my first race with the BA Falcon so it was really a case of getting as much data as possible from the event, this year I am aiming for a good result given the improvement in the car since last year, especially over the past few months.”
Although this weekend will be his debut in the V8 Supercar Championship at Oran Park Winterbottom has also been successful at Oran Park winning in the Australian Formula Ford Championship the last time he competed at the New South Wales circuit in 2002.
“I have only competed at Oran Park once and that was in a Formula Ford when I won the round, I think it is a great track,” said Winterbottom.
“Just like the last round at Winton this track is very challenging and gives you little time to rest, especially during the races, fitness will be a real key.
“Oran Park is not far from where I grew up as a kid so it is always good to race in front of your family and friends and gives you a little bit of an extra boost.”
Practice begins for the weekend on Friday with a 90-minute session from 2pm with a further two practice sessions on Saturday morning followed by qualifying in the afternoon. The round will be highlighted on Sunday with a pair of 54-lap races beginning at 11:20am and 2:30pm respectively.
CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS
AFTER 7 OF 11 ROUNDS
1: Jason Bright (Holden) 1131
2: Steven Richards (Holden) 1126
3: Rick Kelly (Holden) 1116
4: Marcos Ambrose (Ford) 1106
5: Russell Ingall (Ford) 982
6: Greg Murphy (Holden) 979
7: Garth Tander (Holden) 924
8: Todd Kelly (Holden) 897
9: John Bowe (Ford) 728
10: Jason Bargwanna (Ford) 652
11: Paul Radisich (Ford) 646
12: Glenn Seton (Ford) 623
13: Craig Baird (Holden) 610
14: Paul Dumbrell (Holden) 605
15: Paul Morris (Holden) 604
16: Steven Johnson (Ford) 597
17: Brad Jones (Ford) 576
18: Cameron McConnville (Holden) 572
19: Mark Skaife (Holden) 570
20: Paul Weel (Holden) 569
21: Mark Winterbottom (Ford) 562
22: Tony Longhurst (Holden) 560
23: Anthony Tratt (Holden) 512
24: Max Wilson (Ford) 504
25: Warren Luff (Ford) 486
26: Jason Richards (Holden) 475
27: Craig Lowndes (Ford) 450
28: Steve Ellery (Ford) 422
29: David Besnard (Ford) 398
30: Simon Wills (Holden) 364
31: Mark Noske (Ford) 268
32: Dale Brede (Holden) 244
33: Neil McFadyen (Holden) 90
34: Garth Walden (Ford) 66
35: Mark Porter (Holden) 58
ORRCON RACING DRIVER HISTORY AT WINTON MOTOR RACEWAY
Jason Bargwanna
Best Race Finish – 3rd (1998)
Best Round Result – 4th (1998)
Best qualifying position – 11th (1998)
2003 results – Qualifying 20th, Race – 15th
Mark Winterbottom (Formula Ford - 2002)
Qualifying position – 2nd
Finishing position – Race One – 1st, Race Two – 2nd
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
Friday 13 August
2:00pm – 3:30pm - Practice 1
Saturday 14 August
9:15am – 9:50am - Practice 2
11:30pm – 12:05pm – Practice 3
1:50pm – 2:10pm – Qualifying (Lower 50%)
2:15pm - 2:35pm - Qualifying (Upper 50%)
4:05pm - 4:35pm - Top 10 Shoot Out
Sunday 15 August
9:40am - 10:00am Warm Up
11:20pm - Race One (54 laps)
2:30pm – Race Two (54 laps)
Round Eight
Oran Park Raceway
Sydney, NSW
August 13-15, 2004
Track Length: 2.70 km
Avg Speed: 130 kph
Max Speed: 260 kph
Round Format: 2 X 140km races
2003 result – 1st Marcos Ambrose, 2nd Craig Lowndes, 3rd Mark Skaife
TELEVISION TIMES
2.30-5pm – Race coverage – Network Ten
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