Indy tester Ambrose insists there's no place like home
14/11/2000 0:22 (V8 Wire - Jason Whittaker) - While the bright lights of overseas stardom beckon, emerging Motorsport talent Marcos Ambrose insists his immediate future, at least, lies in home-grown V8 Supercar racing.
At an Indy Lights test session in the US last week, Ambrose gave every indication he would return home next year to pilot a V8 Supercar, regardless of the results of the California test.
Ambrose won the chance to test with Lights competitors Dorricott Racing after defeating Australia’s best young talent in the Honda Young Gun Challenge during the Gold Coast Indy weekend last month.
The European Formula 3 and Formula Ford Champion competed against three other drivers during two testing sessions at Buttonwillow Raceway Park, where the Dorricott team assessed each driver’s suitability for a vacant Indy Lights seat next season.
"This has been a great experience," Ambrose said. "I think the level of the team, the car, and the set-up for the test was first class. It was enlightening to be on the inside of a good team that works well together.”
“Now I have to consolidate where I am professionally. In order for me to demonstrate my skills and expose my pedigree in racing, I have to race in a highly competitive series that looks to highlight driver performance either through equal equipment or a higher level of overall competition,” he said.
Ambrose says, for now, the V8 Supercars provide the best opportunity to do just that.
"I see my future next year and the year after in Australia in the Supercars. I think I can re-establish myself through the Supercars and prove I deserve another crack at racing overseas again,” Ambrose said.
As reported last week, it is believed Ambrose will pilot a Stone Brothers-stabled Falcon in the Shell Series next season. Ambrose will take the reigns from Craig Baird in the Pirtek Falcon.
While Ambrose still yearns for international open-wheeler competition, the 24-year-old is more than happy to take on Australia’s best in the tin-tops next season, and possibly beyond.
“With that said, understand that I love Australian racing and I might likely want to stay there. It's a toss up right now but my present desires and finances fortunately dictate that I return to Australia," he said.
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