FPR: Enduro driver pairing announced for third FPR Falcon
27/8/2003 0:26 (Press Release) -
Following a successful test day at Phillip Island last Friday (August 22), Ford Performance Racing (FPR) confirms that experienced Australian drivers Adam Macrow and Darren Hossack have been selected to drive the team's third FPR Falcon at the forthcoming Sandown and Bathurst endurance races.
FPR has provided this opportunity to two local drivers in order to benefit from their previous V8 Supercar endurance racing experience, while at the same time promoting local motor racing talent.
Hossack, 33, and Macrow, 24, both from Victoria, will drive the team's third FPR Falcon entry at the Betta Electrical Sandown 500 on September 14 and the Bob Jane T-Marts Bathurst 1000 on October 12.
Hossack is a leading competitor in the 2003 Australian Sports Sedan Championship and has been a top ten finisher in three out of four Bathurst V8 Supercar races that he has competed in to date. His racing background includes numerous karting and Formula Ford titles along with Speedway successes.
Macrow joins FPR's enduro line up following a successful career in karting, Formula Ford, Formula Holden and Sports Sedans. He is yet to gain a finish in the Bathurst classic, but competed within the top six in this event in 1999 with Tony Longhurst. Enduro co-driver roles with John Faulkner Racing and Castrol Perkins Racing have added to his impressive racing resume.
This latest FPR driver pairing completes the team's endurance race driver line-up, which will be one of the blue oval marque's most competitive ever assembled at Sandown and Bathurst.
Triple champion and 1996 Bathurst champion Craig Lowndes will be joined by Glenn Seton, who will start his 20th Mount Panorama classic this year in the CAT FPR Falcon. FPV FPR Falcon driver David Besnard will be joined by 26-year-old Konica V8 Supercar Series driver Owen Kelly from Tasmania.
According to FPR Chief Engineer John Russell, the team has put together a strong three-car endurance race package, despite the late timing of its finalisation.
"The team ran all six of its drivers through two cars on Friday in an intensive program aimed both at this season and the future. It was an excellent day's testing in near-perfect weather conditions. The team continues to grow in confidence and ability each time we run. Despite the third car being a late addition to our endurance race program, I'm delighted with the spectrum of drivers we have in the team. Adam, Darren and Owen did a commendable job assisting the three regular drivers during the test. We look forward to Sandown and Bathurst with the team's new composition."
FPR Managing Director David Flint is looking forward to the team's three-car assault in these endurance races, particularly with the return of Sandown's 500 kilometre endurance race format.
"We have put together an expanded team that has all of the ingredients required to mount a successful 2003 enduro campaign. I am delighted that we are bringing two local drivers into the fray to display their talent in our third car. All of our driver pairings will make FPR a Blue Oval force to be reckoned with at Sandown and Bathurst and I wish our newest drivers, Adam and Darren, a successful debut with FPR."
Friday's test saw all team drivers take part using car No. 6 (CAT FPR Falcon) and car No. 19 (FPV FPR Falcon) in sunny and clear weather conditions at Phillip Island. A series of endurance race set up configurations and components were tested along with driver change pit stops.
Darren Hossack: "I am very excited to be joining such a top-level Ford team for the endurance races. I am looking forward to doing a solid job for the team and hopefully continuing my run of strong results at Sandown and Mount Panorama. I used to race karts for Peter Macrow's racing team - so Adam and I basically grew up and competed together in our early racing years. We have been long-term friends and competitors so I am looking forward to teaming up with him."
Adam Macrow: "It is great to be given another opportunity at Bathurst and Sandown with such a professional team. The fact that Darren and I will be able to set up and race our own car will be fantastic, considering that we have worked together before and are good friends. Both races are going to be very tough, we will need to learn to set the car up quickly in order to be competitive and to have a consistent car that will see us through our stints. I can't wait!"
--Ford Performance Racing press release
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