The passion is stronger than ever for Larkham
8/10/2004 22:19 (Press Release) -
Throughout the past five years our lives have changed dramatically. Airport security has moved with the times and tightened in line with International standards to a point where it’s now taboo to even carry nail clippers on board an aircraft.
Technology now rules our world with e-mail no longer an option, but rather a necessity and SMS texting is a regular means of communication.
While there are many things in people’s lives that may have changed there is one thing that hasn’t in Mark Larkham’s life, his desire to win the Bob Jane T-Marts 1000 at Bathurst.
After finishing third in 1997, coming tantalizingly close to victory in 1998 after running with the leaders for the majority of the race before enduring an electrical failure forcing him to fourth within sight of the finish Larkham was hoping for 1999 to be his year.
In 1999 North Melbourne won the AFL Premiership and the Melbourne Storm debuted in the NRL before winning the premiership and Larkham started Australia’s great race from pole position.
At the time Larkham was running a single car team campaigning a Ford AU Falcon and was paired with Brad Jones for an assault at Mount Panorama with one of the smallest teams in pit lane.
During qualifying Larkham broke the outright lap record previously held by Neil Allen in a Formula 5000 to earn the right to start from pole Larkham and he was full of confidence and adrenalin for the following 24 hours.
“I will never forget that feeling, it was something very, very special,” said Larkham.
“Then the next morning before the race it was the busiest, but also the most excited I have ever been at a race meeting with everyone wanting to interview, wish me luck, corporate appearances, it was incredibly busy.
“I remember the relief when I finally got strapped into the car, it allowed about 15 minutes to relax uninterrupted and focus on the job ahead in the 161-lap race.”
Not one of his best starts, Larkham dropped to fifth during the opening stint behind Jason Bright. Larkham handed the car over to Jones who got involved in an incident racing with one of the HRT cars. The subsequent off circuit excursion caused some overheating dramas, and unfortunately this included the clutch.
Larkham’s race came to a premature end with clutch problem relegating him into retirement after only 62 laps completed.
Since that one day in October during 1999, Larkham’s passion for a Bathurst victory has grown even greater. This year a pair of Orrcon Racing Falcon’s directed under his leadership will be given a serious shot of elevating all four Larkham Motor Sport drivers to the podium at Mount Panorama.
After their strong performance at Sandown, former Bathurst Champion Jason Bargwanna and Mark Winterbottom are expected to figure prominently at Bathurst in the Orrcon Racing Number 10 Falcon.
“The guys did a fantastic job at Sandown, it was testament to the effort that has been put in by the entire team over the past 12 months,” said Larkham.
“It is this effort by the team that gives me confidence we can be a serious contender at Bathurst.”
While Larkham’s full time driving duties are a thing of the past as he juggles the management of Larkham Motor Sport, being a Board member of both AVESCO and the Touring Car Entrants Group of Australia, family commitments with four young kids and gym work, his return to the drivers seat pairing with New Zealander Matt Halliday has the 41-year-old fueled up for Bathurst.
The pace Larkham showed during the opening laps at Sandown where he moved from 29th to 19th within the opening ten laps before enduring an engine misfire for the remainder of the race added fuel to his fire.
“For me it is no longer about my driving career it is about Larkham Motor Sport succeeding,” however, after a recent successful test day, and Sandown I’m really fired up” and Bathurst for whatever reason seems to drag out that little extra in me” said Larkham.
“To be standing on the top of the podium at Bathurst is the No1 ambition of any V8 Supercar driver, and I’m no different, but if it is not me up there I would love for nothing more than to have two of my drivers there.
“We have two really strong cars and four quality endurance drivers, there is no reason why we can’t have both cars well inside the top ten.”
One thing is certain that if passion, dedication and desire count towards the victory Larkham and his dedicated Orrcon Racing team will once again be at the pointy end of the field at Bathurst.
ORRCON RACING V8 SUPERCAR DRIVER HISTORY AT THE BOB JANE T-MARTS 1000
Jason Bargwanna
Best Finish – 1st (2000)
Best qualifying position – 7th (1998)
Debut - 1997
2003 results – Qualifying 21st, Race DNF
Drivers previously paired with – Mark Noske (1997), Jim Richards (1998), Garth Tander (1999, 2000, 01, 02)
Mark Winterbottom
Best Finish – DNF (2003)
Best qualifying position – (2003)
Debut - 2003
2003 results – Qualifying 18th, Race DNF
Drivers previously paired with – Mark Noske (2003)
Mark Larkham
Best Finish – 3rd (1997)
Best qualifying position – 1st (1999)
Debut - 1996
2003 results – Qualifying 21st, Race DNF
Drivers previously paired with – Cameron McConville (1996), Andrew Miedecke (97), Brad Jones (98, 99), Alain Menu (2000), Wayne Gardner (01), Will Power (02), Jason Bargwanna (03)
Matt Halliday
Best Finish – N/A debut 2004
Best qualifying position – N/A debut 2004
Debut - N/A debut 2004
2003 results – N/A debut 2004
2004 V8 SUPERCAR CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS
After 9 of 13 rounds
1: Marcos Ambrose 148
2: Jason Bright 1464
3: Steven Richards 1397
4: Rick Kelly 1373
5: Russell Ingall 1347
6: Greg Murphy 1284
7: Todd Kelly 1163
8: Garth Tander 1155
9: John Bowe 1004
10: Jason Bargwanna 962
11: Paul Weel 881
12: Mark Skaife 863
13: Paul Morris 861
14: Cameron McConville 860
15: Paul Dumbrell 844
16: Steven Johnson 832
17: Tony Longhurst 826
18: Craig Baird 814
19: Brad Jones 789
20: Jason Richards 788
21: Glenn Seton 783
22: Mark Winterbottom 764
23: Paul Radisich 763
24: Warren Luff 736
25: Anthony Tratt 720
26: Craig Lowndes 637
27: Steve Ellery 590
28: David Besnard 560
29: Max Wilson 504
30: Simon Wills 499
31: Mark Noske 304
32: Dale Brede 292
33: Fabian Coulthard 214
34: Mark Porter 202
35: Greg Ritter 192
36: Cameron McLean 188
37: Garth Walden 181
38: Marcus Marshall 152
39: Matthew White 152
40: Thomas Mezera 148
41: Peter Brock 140
42: Jason Plato 140
43: Jim Richards 136
44: Charlie O'Brien 132
45: Allan Gurr 128
46: Adam Macrow 120
47: Alain Menu 120
48: Christian D'Agostin 116
49: Kurt Wimmer 116
50: John McIntyre 112
51: Alex Yoong 112
52: Luke Youlden 108
53: Grant Elliott 100
54: Neil McFadyen 90
Bob Jane T-Marts 1000
Mount Panorama, Bathurst NSW
Thursday October 7
11:00 - 12:00 – Practice One
2:20 – 2:50 – Practice Two
3:00 – 3:30 – Practice Three (Co-drivers)
Friday October 8
9:25 – 10:25 – Practice Four
2:00 – 2:45 – Qualifying (Lower 50%)
2:55 – 3:40 – Qualifying (Upper 50%)
Saturday October 9
10:00 – 11:00 – Practice Five
3:40 – 4:25 – Top Ten Shootout
Sunday October 10
7:15 – 7:45 – Warm Up
10:00 – Bob Jane T-Marts 1000 (161 Laps)
TRACK FACTS
Round Ten
Bob Jane T-marts 1000, Mount Panorama
Bathurst, NSW
October 7-10, 2004
Track Length: 6.21 km
Avg Speed: 146 kph
Max Speed: 290 kph
Round Format: 1 X 1000km race
2003 result – 1st Greg Murphy/Rick Kelly, 2nd Craig Lowndes/Glenn Seton, 3rd Steven Ellery/Luke Youlden
TV TELECAST – NETWORK TEN
Friday – 1pm-4pm (EST)
Saturday – Noon-5pm (EST)
Sunday – 7am-5pm (EST)
* Please note that Network Ten will show a round of the Formula One World Championship from Suzuka Japan on Sunday from 5.30pm to 7pm.
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