FPR - Individual Race Reports
29/11/2004 18:48 (Press Release) -
RACE ONE (Saturday - 4:00pm)
Ford Performance Racing driver Craig Lowndes finished 6th in the first of three
Tasmanian V8 Supercar races being held this weekend at Launceston's Symmons
Plains Raceway. Glenn Seton endured a tough race punctuated by an off circuit
foray and an unsuccessful gamble on wet tyres.
The 42 lapper started at 4:00pm and by the mid stages of the race dark storm
clouds provided the continuous threat of heavy rain - but only brief light
showers saw the circuit remain mostly dry.
Both Seton and Lowndes made strong starts in Saturday's race, Seton making up
two positions from the green light and Lowndes bringing his CAT FPR Falcon into
the pits while in 3rd position after 11 laps (from 7th on the grid). Racing on
slick (dry) tyres throughout, Lowndes muscled his way to 6th by the chequered
flag.
Seton was forced to run his Ford Credit FPV Falcon off the circuit to avoid
impacting the early braking Max Wilson on the approach to the turn four hairpin
on lap 10, this costing the 1992 Symmons Plains winner valuable time and track
positions after his first tyre stop. With dark clouds and rain showers closing
in around the circuit, the team made the decision to take a gamble with one of
the team's FPR Falcons in the unpredictable conditions with wet tyres, but the
expected heavy showers never came. Seton finished 28th.
The first Tasmanian Triple Challenge V8 Supercar race was won by Holden driver
Rick Kelly ahead of Ford's Marcos Ambrose and Todd Kelly (Holden). Lowndes was
the second highest placed Ford driver in the race.
RACE TWO - Sunday 12:05pm
Craig Lowndes got race two off to a blistering start, racing from 6th to 4th
before the first turn and starting a race long chase of Ford rival Russell
Ingall and Holden driver Greg Murphy. The battle continued for the entire 42
lap race which was interrupted only by his compulsory pit stop for tyres on lap
5 and two short Safety Car periods.
Glenn Seton set off on the hard task of gaining as many track positions as
possible during this race, starting from 28th on the grid. He progressed to
23rd by the half way point of the race and continued to 19th in a solid drive
to the chequered flag. The Ford Credit FPV Falcon driver was the first of the
two FPR drivers to make his compulsory pit stop for tyres on lap 5.
Lowndes raced his CAT FPR Falcon to 6th place, 4.4 seconds behind the race
winner Marcos Ambrose. Holden drivers Rick Kelly and Todd Kelly finished second
and third.
Overcast and windy conditions prevailed for both of Sunday's V8 Supercar races.
RACE THREE - Sunday, 3:00pm
Starting from 6th on the grid, Lowndes pitted on the 4th lap for tyres and
started a race long chase of the leaders. On lap 9, Lowndes and Ambrose had
territorial dispute on the track resulting in a bent steering for the CAT FPR
Falcon. The first of two Safety Car periods took place on the 11th lap when
Holden driver Paul Weel spectacularly crashed after hitting oil from Todd
Kelly's blown HRT engine at the first turn.
Lowndes drove around the problem to continue his charge into the top ten from
16th position by the half way point. By lap 27 he had progressed to 14th and
the second Safety Car period occurred, this one lasting some ten laps due to a
car blocking the circuit and some race timing issues that saw utter confusion
reign supreme in the V8 Supercar pit lane in relation to the running order of
the field. The race re-started on lap 37 and Lowndes sprinted to the chequered
flag at 10th.
For Ford Credit FPV Falcon driver Seton, the race was frustrating as he started
from 19th on the grid and made up one place at the start. After a 7.7 second
pit stop on lap 5, Seton continued his charge towards the top ten. The long
Safety Car period proved costly, taking away valuable race laps to continue
moving up the order.
Seton finished 14th, the double Champion driver clearly matching the pace of
the top ten drivers throughout the limited racing laps of the 42 lap Tasmanian
encounter.
The third race was won by Holden driver Greg Murphy ahead of Ford's Russell
Ingall and Holden driver Steven Richards. This result earned Ingall the round
victory.
Release Date: 14/11/2004
Ford Performance Racing
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