Orrcon Racing regulars join forces for enduros
5/9/2004 23:14 (Press Release) -
Following their third test day of the year yesterday Orrcon Racing are pleased to confirm that the regular campaigners aboard the Orrcon Racing Falcon’s Jason Bargwanna and Mark Winterbottom will join forces for the upcoming endurance events.
The pair will drive in the Number 10 Orrcon Racing Falcon while team owner Mark Larkham will pair with New Zealand young gun Matt Halliday in the second Larkham Motor Sport prepared entry aboard the Number 20 Falcon.
Bargwanna, a former winner of the Bob Jane T-Marts 1000 at Bathurst, is currently 10th in the Championship standings and believes pairing with Winterbottom will enable the team to be serious contenders both at the Betta Electrical Sandown 500 and Bathurst.
“Mark did a fantastic job in both races last year and the race pace shown by the team this year has shown that these races could bring an extremely competitive result by having the two regular drivers together,” said Bargwanna.
“No matter what people think Bathurst is still the highlight of the year and it is what teams work towards for the entire year, our team has been working extremely hard aiming for a good result at the mountain.
“Winning Bathurst in 2000 has so far been the highlight of my career but to do it again would be sensational.”
Both Orrcon Racing drivers made their V8 Supercar debut at Sandown with Bargwanna starting his career in 1997 and Winterbottom last year after claiming the Konica V8 Championship.
After having a taste of both the Sandown and Bathurst circuits last year Winterbottom is confident of a good result in both events.
“It was good to get the experience last year, it gives me confidence going into this year’s events because I know what to expect from a V8 around both Sandown and Bathurst,” said Winterbottom.
“To pair with someone that has as much experience around Bathurst like Bargs is something I am really looking forward to, then you throw in the experience of Larko and the team I am confident we will be able to achieve a good result.”
Larkham, who has previously sat on pole position at Bathurst is looking forward to climbing back aboard the Orrcon Racing BA Falcon early next month at Sandown.
“I’ve been in this game long enough to know how tough the endurance races are, I have realistic expectations about what it will take to be on the pace having spent nine months out of a car” said Larkham.
“Endurance racing is about many things…speed, strategy, reliability, teamwork, mental and physical stamina, and as such our expectations are to finish at the pointy end.”
Halliday, 25, has claimed a host of victories across a wide variety of racing categories that has also including pole position and dominating the second round of the Formula Renault Championship before finishing third in Monaco last year.
The talented Kiwi finished sixth in the 2001 Indy Lights Championship and has twice finished third in the Australian Drivers Championship in 1999 and 2000.
More recently, Halliday has finished runner-up in the 2004 Trans Tasman GT3 Cup behind multiple Bathurst and Australian touring car Champion Jim Richards. He also took out two of the Carrera Cup races at the Melbourne Grand Prix earlier this year.
Halliday will become the third member of the driver line up to make their V8 Supercar debut at the Sandown circuit when he competes alongside Larkham.
“I am definitely looking forward to both events and am very comfortable to be driving with someone who has as much experience as Mark (Larkham) does around Sandown and Bathurst,” said Halliday.
“Before yesterday’s test day I had only driven a V8 for a handful of laps back in 2000 so it was great to get a feel for the car.
“One of the main focuses during the day was to ensure both Mark and I are comfortable in the car and also completed several driver changes preparing for the events.”
The ninth round of the V8 Supercar Championship is the Betta Electrical Sandown 500 at Sandown, Victoria on September 10-12.
Currently Bargwanna is tenth in the Championship standings with Winterbottom 23rd.
CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS
1: Jason Bright (Holden)1308
2: Marcos Ambrose (Ford) 1295
3: Steve Richards (Holden) 1276
4: Rick Kelly (Holden) 1194
5: Russell Ingall (Ford) 1159
6: Greg Murphy (Holden) 1108
7: Todd Kelly (Holden) 1056
8: Garth Tander (Holden) 975
9: John Bowe (Ford) 836
10: Jason Bargwanna (Ford) 790
11: Paul Radisich (Ford) 763
12: Mark Skaife (Holden) 759
13: Paul Morris (Holden) 730
14: Paul Weel (Holden) 725
15: Cameron McConville (Holden) 680
16: Paul Dumbrell (Holden) 670
17: Craig Baird (Holden) 662
18: Tony Longhurst (Holden) 659
19: Glenn Seton (Ford) 648
20: Steven Johnson (Ford) 625
21: Jason Richards (Holden) 648
22: Brad Jones (Ford) 625
23: Mark Winterbottom (Ford) 618
24: Anthony Tratt (Holden) 592
25: Warren Luff (Ford) 552
26: Craig Lowndes (Ford) 513
27: Max Wilson (Ford) 504
28: Simon Wills (Holden) 496
29: Steve Ellery (For d) 482
30: David Besnard (Ford) 428
31: Mark Noske (Ford) 304
32: Dale Brede (Holden) 292
33: Neil McFadyen (Holden) 90
34: Garth Walden (Ford) 81
35: Mark Porter (Holden) 58
36: Fabian Coulthard (Holden) 6
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