Lowndes: Ford's call came at the right time
4/1/2001 22:26 (V8 Wire - Jason Whittaker) - A brief but well-timed phone call from Ford boss Geoff Polities may have swayed Lowndes’ decision in their favour, Lowndes revealed in this morning’s startling press conference to announce his defection to Ford.
Not just Lowndes shifting camp: Fred Gibson will bring his championship winning operation across to the blue oval as well.
|
Polities took a personal interest in recruiting Lowndes to his fledgling Ford squad; once ringing the former Holden star to remind him that Ford would welcome him with open arms should he decide to leave General Motors. It was a call that, Lowndes concedes, could have tipped the scales in favour of Ford.
But while Polities actively targeted the former HRT champion during his time on the open market, the Ford boss took a step back to allow Lowndes to access his options and make a decision. It was something Lowndes appreciated.
"Geoff Polites has become a good friend and has talked me through all the issues and challenges of Ford's Motorsport campaign in great detail, while leaving me to make the call on what I thought was going to be the best move for me personally in 2001,” Lowndes explained.
"I've developed a great deal of respect for him and nothing would make me happier than to make a significant contribution to the success that he and Fred are determined to achieve," he said.
In describing the courtship that led to him signing a five-year, multi-million dollar contract with Ford, Lowndes said an “inspirational” Fred Gibson was a major protagonist in his decision.
"Fred is one of the most highly respected figures in Australian Motorsport. I can't imagine anyone I'd rather work with and his passion and enthusiasm for this new challenge is inspirational,” 26-year-old Lowndes said.
While Lowndes was clearly enthusiastic about the challenges that lie ahead racing for Ford, he hopes he can avoid any fan backlash.
"Hopefully the fans will understand the decision that I've made is one that's right for my future," he said. "I'm sure there will be some disappointed people but on the other side of the coin there will be some excited people.”
Lowndes insisted that there was nothing sinister behind the move, only that Holden was pulling in a different direction to the one he was.
Ford’s latest young-gun will debut in his new colours at the Australian Grand Prix in March, but its hoped the team’s new AU Falcon can be built before time to allow some pre-season testing. Gibson is yet to take delivery of a car or engine.
The transition period – converting Gibson’s Holden workshop in outer Melbourne into one operative for a Falcon – will take some time. Most of Gibson’s Commodore-specific equipment, including the team’s fleet of VT Commodores, is likely to be sold.
Meanwhile, Fred Gibson will sit down with K-Mart people tomorrow morning in a bid to secure their sponsorship for the new Lowndes era. Their intentions, and those of last year’s supporting sponsors Castrol Australia and Playstation, are unclear.
| |
