FORD V8'S READY TO ROCK THE SHAKY ISLES
13/4/2005 23:19 (Press Release) -
Ford take the top two championship spots, plus the defending race champion
to round #2 of the 2005 V8 Supercar Championship Series at Pukekohe Park
south of Auckland this weekend.
Marcos Ambrose and Craig Lowndes lead the way in the championship, but
attention will also be focussed on Jason Bright who'll aim to repeat as
the NZ winner, this time aboard a Ford Falcon.
The extremely fast 2.8km track presents several challenges to V8 Supercar
teams and drivers given the circuit's uneven surface, off camber corners
and the unpredictability of Auckland's weather during April.
Jason Bright broke Greg Murphy's stranglehold on the Placemakers V8 International
event last year, winning two of the three races to take the round victory,
ahead of Marcos Ambrose and Murphy.
Bright has participated in each of the previous four point-scoring events
held in New Zealand, finishing each round sixth or higher. His complete
record is fourth in 2001, fifth in 2002, sixth in 2003 and overall winner
in 2004.
“I am looking forward to heading back to New Zealand after the success
I enjoyed there last year,” said Bright.
“Strong development is starting to flow to make the CAT FPR Falcon better
suited to my driving style.
“Pukekohe is a track that I enjoy, mainly due to its mixture of very fast
and slow corners. This is also the first Championship round where we see
the introduction of the two hour practice session which will give us a
better opportunity to develop our cars as opposed to the two 30 minute
sessions we have seen in the past."
This is the final time that the V8 Supercars will visit Pukekohe, with
series organisers AVESCO stating that New Zealand's round will be held
at another venue from 2006.
For defending two-time V8 Supercar Champion Marcos Ambrose Pukekohe is
one of the few tracks he's yet to win a round at, despite being the home
track for team owners Jimmy and Ross Stone.
“If I can deliver one thing to Ross and Jimmy for everything they've done
for me over the past four years it would be to deliver them a round victory
at their home track,” said Ambrose.
“This is an important race for them and for the entire SBR team. It's one
title that's eluded us and there'll only be this final opportunity in 2005
before the New Zealand round is switched elsewhere.
“It was great to capture the first race win in the rain last year but we
didn't complete the deal and that was disappointing.
“With improvements to the track this season we want to have good pace and
step things up a notch.
“With a new diff ratio and a few other things that have been updated on
the Pirtek Falcon I'm excited with what can be achieved on the long straights
of Pukekohe.”
Lowndes is just nine points behind Ambrose in the championship chase and
is keen to get his first win aboard the Team Betta Electrical Falcon.
“Adelaide was a great start for us, now I want a fantastic weekend in NZ,”
said Lowndes.
“Winning at Pukekohe would be great for me, the team and all the Ford fans
who have yet to enjoy a Blue Oval championship round win in New Zealand.
“The format for NZ includes three separate races. As always qualifying
up front is important but you have to be consistent throughout each race
and get good pit stops.”
Teams first take to the track on Friday for a two-hour practice session.
During this period cars can complete no more than 50-laps. Saturday includes
qualifying, top-10 shootout and the opening 36-lap race. Sunday concludes
the weekend's action with two 50-lap races.
All Ford V8 Supercars will this weekend run a special decal to mark the
passing of Ford Public Affairs Manager Louise Teesdale.
Championship points after 1 of 13 rounds
1: Marcos Ambrose : Pirtek Racing : Ford Falcon BA 192pts
2: Craig Lowndes : Team Betta Electrical : Ford Falcon BA -9pts
3: Todd Kelly : Holden Race Team : Holden Commodore -30pts
4=: Steven Johnson : Westpoint Racing : Ford Falcon BA -51pts
4=: Paul Weel : Super Cheap Auto Racing : Holden Commodore -51pts
6: Russell Ingall : Caltex Racing : Ford Falcon BA -54pts
7: Paul Dumbrell : Castrol Perkins Motorsport : Holden Commodore -57pts
8: Cameron McConville : Valvoline Cummins Racing : Holden Commodore -63pts
9: Rick Kelly : Team HSV : Holden Commodore -66pts
10: Jason Bright : CAT Ford Performance Racing : Ford Falcon BA -84pts
Details for Pukekohe:
Top 10 Shootout - Saturday 16 April 12.30pm
Race 1 (36 laps - 100.8km) - Saturday 16 April - 3pm
Race 2 (50 laps - 140km) - Sunday 17 April - 12.05pm
Race 3 (50 laps - 140km) - Sunday 17 April - 4.30pm
Circuit: Pukekohe Park Raceway
Length: 2.8km
Estimated top speed: 275km/h - Back Straight
Estimated average speed: 155 km/h
Ford's V8 Milestones for NZ
John Bowe Team BOC 51st birthday - 16 April
Ford's official V8 Line-up for NZ
#1 Marcos Ambrose (Tas) Pirtek Racing
#9 Russell Ingall (SA) Caltex Racing
#5 Greg Ritter (Vic) Ford Credit/FPV Ford Performance Racing
#6 Jason Bright (Vic) CAT Ford Performance Racing
#10 Jason Bargwanna (NSW) Orrcon Steel Racing
#20 Mark Winterbottom (NSW) Orrcon Steel Racing
#12 John Bowe (Tas) BOC Racing
#21 Brad Jones (NSW) BOC Racing
#17 Steve Johnson (Qld) Westpoint Racing
#18 Glenn Seton (NSW) Westpoint Racing
#25 Matthew White (Vic) Britek Racing
#88 Steve Ellery (Vic) Team Betta Electrical
#888 Craig Lowndes (Vic) Team Betta Electrical
Release Date: 12/04/2005
Ford Racing Australia
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