Kelly white hot going into final Konica V8 Round
16/8/2004 12:28 (Press Release) -
The form driver of this year's Konica Minolta V8 Supercar Series, Team Fujitsu's Owen Kelly, believes he can take out the championship in South Australia this weekend.
Kelly has won seven races this year including two rounds and would have been a clear leader going into the championship-deciding round had mechanical problems not occurred.
"It's been pretty obvious that we've been the outstanding team this year, I think that we deserve to win the title," Owen Kelly said.
"Seven race wins, two round wins, several fastest laps, most laps led through the season, I think that this tells the story.
"Andrew Jones has won a couple of races and rounds, Luke Youlden has only won a reverse grid race, these results don't tell me that they deserve to win the title.
"If the radiator didn't break on the line at Winton I would have had a pretty major lead in the championship.
"We accept that you've got to finish every race, and problems do occur, but I still think the points system should be changed to reward strong performance and wins, not consistency."
Kelly believes his main rivals are feeling the pressure at the business end of the season.
"To me it looks like my two main rivals are feeling the pinch a bit," Kelly said.
"I'm feeling very relaxed about what I have to do.
"The championship has not been on my mind (recently) any more than any other week of the season so far.
"I'll be pushing as hard at Mallala as I was at all the rounds so far.
I want to win all three races and the round. If I do this then I can win the championship."
Kelly knows that he has the equipment to take him to his first major championship title.
"The team has prepared two great cars," Kelly said.
"I'm expecting my Ford to be stronger at Mallala than at any point of the season. I've had very few mechanical problems so I know that it will take me to the finish line in all three races.
"I've got more car pace than Luke (Youlden) has but Andrew (Jones) is very competitive, he'll be tough to beat, but I'm feeling pretty confident."
The final round of the 2004 Konica Minolta V8 Supercar series is on this weekend at Mallala Raceway on the outskirts of Adelaide.
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