AGP PREV – Burning new rubber at Albert Park
28/2/2002 17:24 (V8 Wire - Jason Whittaker) -
Not a single championship point is on offer this weekend at Albert Park, the non-championship showcase event in support of the Formula One Grand Prix, but that’s no disincentive for Stone Brothers Racing’s Marcos Ambrose and David Besnard – they’re going to Melbourne to win.
“Other teams have talked about nothing being up for grabs this weekend, but we don’t see it like that,” said Besnard, embarking on his second season with the Gold Coast-based outfit.
“We are going to Albert Park to win races this weekend and to create momentum that will carry us through to the opening round of the V8 Supercar Championship Series in Adelaide in a fortnight and beyond.”
Ambrose, last year’s AVESCO Rookie of the Year, stunned the V8 Supercar establishment in Melbourne last year by claiming pole position on debut.
He is, in respect to the Formula One circus, the Juan Montoya of V8 racing: last year’s rookie sensation who’s back practiced and polished for a serious assault on the championship series.
"(We’ve) made some strong gains in the off-season and we're confident of getting things off to a strong start at the Grand Prix,” he said.
It’s a meeting all V8 Supercar drivers can’t help but be excited about – a fast, flowing, challenging street course, a raucous atmosphere, spectacular setting, and without the pressures of a championship event.
But the traditionally tame parade around Albert Park Lake takes on added importance this year with the introduction of the new Dunlop control tyre. Many teams will fit their cars with Dunlop rubber, said to be a faster, more durable compound than last year’s Bridgestones, for the first time in Melbourne.
Dick Johnson Racing’s Steven Johnson has tested the Dunlop tyre, at Queensland Raceway last week, and said the transition from Bridgestone to Dunlop should be smooth.
"We've had just one run on the new Dunlops so far which is why the Grand Prix will be important in getting more understanding of what the tyres are like," he said.
"In that initial test the Dunlops were very impressive and the car hasn't needed to be changed very much, so we're very confident for 2002.”
Defending series champion, Mark Skaife is yet to sample the Dunlops, and is looking forward to putting them through their paces.
“It gives us another challenge for the weekend to help focus back on the job after the summer break,” he said.
You can’t help but make comparisons with Skaife and Formula One World Champion Michael Schumacher this weekend. Both are, unquestionably, class leaders and irresistible favourites to defend their championship crowns this season.
Come Sunday night, both may be painting the town, appropriately enough, red.
Spare a thought for Briggs Motorsport recruit Max Wilson, making his V8 Supercar debut in Melbourne.
Once on the cusp of Formula One stardom as a Williams test driver, the 29-year-old Brazilian’s racing career will turn full circle this weekend, playing support to the F1 circus in a Betta Electrical-sponsored V8 Falcon.
Rather than lament the missed opportunity, Wilson, a late wildcard entry for the Grand Prix along with Holden Young Lion Rick Kelly, is enthused about his Supercar assignment.
“It is such an amazing category of motor racing," he said. "I just love it.”
34 starters will take to the grid tomorrow for the first 30-minute sprint, ahead of races on Saturday and Sunday.
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