R2K PREV - Simpson itching to rumble in Konica jungle
16/3/2001 13:31 (V8 Wire - Jason Whittaker) -
Unheralded V8 rookie Michael Simpson is itching to get back behind the wheel and resume hostilities at round two of the Konica V8 Supercar Series at Oran Park Raceway this weekend.
"If I had come out in a rash it would not have been a surprise," the zealous Queenslander said.
Simpson was a revelation at round one of the series at Wakefield Park Raceway, leading Ford’s charge in the ex-Stone Brothers EL Falcon.
Ross Stone made the trip south to oversee Simpson’s debut in the car David Besnard drove to two round victories last year, but won’t be track-side this weekend at Oran Park.
Nonetheless, Simpson says the aid of Stone during the largely-unsponsored team’s inauguration has set a platform for future rounds.
"Ross is not making the trip south this weekend, but I am sure we will be in constant contact," Simpson said. "The support we have received from Stone Brothers Racing has been nothing short of fantastic."
"I think we proved in the first round that we have the tools to do the job. We just have to be cool and get out there and do it," he said.
The man he’ll have to beat, if the first round is any guide, is twice Formula Holden champion Simon Wills. Wills won two of the three Wakefield sprints.
While Oran Park in a V8 Supercar will be a new experience for Wills, he’s lapped the challenging 2.6km outer-Sydney circuit enough times in his Formula Holden to know his way around.
"I am looking forward to racing at Oran Park, it is a very challenging circuit but my record to date is quite good, winning four out of my last six Formula Holden races held there", Wills said.
"I will be looking to continue that this weekend but the reverse grid in race two will certainly make things interesting," he said.
Interesting, indeed. The reverse grid format in race two – which sees the top ten finishers from the first race start in reverse order for the second, with the race three grid determined by the finishing order of the second race – remains intact this weekend despite some very public protests from drivers. Claims that the format encourages sandbagging in the first race have fallen on deaf ears.
Leanne Ferrier is one who capitalised on the reverse grid promotion in race two at the opening round, putting her in a winning position come the third race. She lost her duel with Wills after a safety car period disintegrated her massive lead, but still became the first female to make an appearance on a V8 Supercar podium.
"I am thrilled with my result from round one of the Konica series, I have exceeded the team and my own expectations," 20-year-old Ferrier said.
"I am really looking forward to racing at Oran Park, which is one of my favourite tracks, and hopefully I will have a bit of a home ground advantage," she said.
NRC Racing’s Dale Brede had an inauspicious start to his tin-top career at Wakefield Park, plagued by mechanical attrition, handling problems and simply being in the wrong place at the wrong time.
However, the raw speed of his VT Commodore (qualifying second quickest last round) is a sign of things to come.
"I'd like to think that our pace will be as good, if not better than at Wakefield Park this weekend. I have to ensure that we stay at the front of the field during the races and I am determined to do the best that I can," Brede said.
"We have done a great deal of work on the car since Wakefield and we have discovered a few things that hurt us at the season opener, so with a few set up changes in store for Oran Park we will be looking good for a strong result," he added.
Round one race winner Paul Dumbrell is another on the 25-car Oran Park grid of V8 up-and-comers for round two of the Konica Series this weekend.
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