FPR GOLD COAST BOUND FOR INDY ROUND
8/11/2004 18:50 (Press Release) -
Ford Performance Racing (FPR) carries the momentum of the
blue oval V8 Supercar team's podium performance at Bathurst a fortnight ago to
the streets of Surfers Paradise this weekend.
The Gillette V8 Supercar Challenge marks the third last round of the 2004
Australian V8 Supercar Championship Series, the calendar having left precious
little time between events to prepare for what is sure to be a close Surfers
Paradise street fight.
With Ford carring a win rate over Holden of six to three in the past nine Gold
Coast V8 Supercar events, FPR drivers Craig Lowndes and Glenn Seton are eager
to continue Ford's V8 Supercar success rate at this high speed, concrete walled
4.5 kilometre street circuit.
Neither FPR driver has managed to win this round during their multiple
Championship winning careers, so the team's speed and reliability displayed at
Bathurst gives the duo their best opportunity yet for Surfers Paradise round
honours.
The scene of many major accidents and some exciting close V8 Supercar racing in
the past, the Surfers Paradise street circuit is a combination of long and fast
straights, slow chicanes and tight hairpin corners, all set on a narrow and
extremely unforgiving circuit layout.
Another home race for both Queensland based FPR Falcon drivers, both Seton and
Lowndes are as hungry as ever for success on the Gold Coast streets, to meet
their goal of finishing in the Championship top ten by the end of the season.
#6 Craig Lowndes - "It would be nice to back up our great Bathurst result with
another at Surfers Paradise. This is the tightest circuit that we go to,
without a doubt the hardest track to pass on - so qualifying is all important.
As a driver, I thoroughly enjoy racing there because of the commitment you need
to get around this street circuit fast. I have come very close to winning this
round before, so I am hungrier than ever for it now."
#5 Glenn Seton - "As a Gold Coast resident this is now my new home track so I
am looking forward it. The Surfers Paradise street circuit is very challenging -
the concrete walls are extremely unforgiving and this has been displayed in
the past many times. Based on our performance at Bathurst, we are heading to
Indy this year looking for a top five result."
FPR Chief Engineer, John Russell - "After an upturn of performance and fortune
at Bathurst, FPR moves on to a very different event at Surfers Paradise. With
renewed car speed and reliability, both Glenn and Craig should be set to
continue FPR's upward momentum."
The busy V8 Supercar schedule at Surfers Paradise starts with two practice
sessions and qualifying taking place on Friday. The first 22 lap V8 Supercar
race takes place at 3:50pm Saturday and the second 33 lapper starts at 12:00pm
Sunday. Each Surfers Paradise race will include a compulsory pit stop for tyres.
Release Date: 18/10/2004
Ford Performance Racing
|
|
