BATHURST: Motorsport focus shifts to Bob Jane T-Marts 1000
15/9/2003 13:23 (Press Release) -
The countdown to the Bob Jane T-Marts 1000 in Bathurst from October 9 to 12 is well and truly underway following a dramatic and action-packed endurance preview yesterday at the Betta Electrical Sandown 500.
Holden Racing Team's victory through Mark Skaife and Todd Kelly in their new VY Commodore ended a seven-round winning streak for Ford and the dominance of Stone Brothers Racing.
The result has now set the scene for the ULTIMATE SHOWDOWN on Mount Panorama, with Holden's Mark Skaife (HRT) and Greg Murphy (Kmart Racing) closing in on V8 Supercar Championships Series leader and Ford man-of-the-moment Marcos Ambrose (Stone Brothers Racing) in the point's standings.
Attention is now completely focused on the Bob Jane T-Marts 1000 from October 9 to 12 which is round 10 of the 13-round series and the annual highlight on the V8 Supercar calendar.
"If anyone has come out of today thinking they (Stone Brother Racing and Marcos Ambrose) had our measure in speed, they were watching a different race. The fight is absolutely on for Bathurst," said Skaife, after the Sandown race.
The win has given Skaife extra confidence to press for his third consecutive Bob Jane T-Marts 1000 victory for HRT and his fifth overall. If he can achieve the Bathurst three-peat with Todd Kelly, it will have been with three different co-drivers in the three years.
In 2001 Skaife took the honours with Tony Longhurst and last year with Jim Richards. Now Longhurst and Richards are set to pair in the second HRT car following their 10th yesterday.
The V8 Supercar Championship Series lead still remains with Ford's Ambrose despite a mishap at Sandown which cost he and co-driver Russell Ingall a great shot at the team?s seventh round win this year.
Ambrose had a considerable lead by close to the half way mark when he came in to change over to Ingall. In the wet conditions Ingall got caught with a 'soft' brake pedal at turn one on his out lap and ended up in the sand trap. The incident cost the team crucial time, but Ingall stayed in the BA Falcon for the remainder of the race and fought his way back from 22nd to finish an incredible fifth.
"The good thing is that a couple of the other guys towards the top of the championship also had an ordinary day and we have maintained the championship lead," said Ambrose.
"We certainly had car speed today and now we will take it to Bathurst in a few weeks time."
In a better result for Ford, Super Cheap Auto Racing notched up its best ever V8 Supercar result with a second placing for Steve Ellery and Luke Youlden. The pair stayed out of trouble and were overjoyed with the result and promised more to come at Bathurst.
"We've been steadily improving over the last few rounds so we knew a good result wasn't far away," said Ellery.
"The BA is getting better and better - it's fast, its engine power has improved, the team is so committed and my confidence is sky high. There's no reason why we can't continue to do good things."
Currently lying second in the series, Holden's Greg Murphy (Kmart Racing) made up the podium at Sandown in third place with co-driver Rick Kelly. Ford drivers' John Bowe and Brad Jones (OzEmail Racing) placed a credible fourth ahead of Ambrose and Ingall.
In the dramatic closing stages of the race, Team Dynamik's Jason Richards was on the verge of passing Skaife to claim his and the team's first V8 Supercar victory. While attempting to pass, Richards got caught wide and went into the sandtrap in a heartbreaking end to their race.
However Richards and co-driver Simon Wills showed that Team Dynamik's VY Commodore will be a considerable force at the Bob Jane T-Marts 1000 and the team will be eager than ever to put the memory of Sandown behind them.
"It is not every day of the week you start catching an HRT car for the win - this is a very bright day for Team Dynamik," said Richards.
With four rounds remaining in the series, Ambrose holds a 106-point lead over Murphy with another 80-points back to Skaife and a further six to Ingall.
Jason Bright (Team Brock), who was in the series lead two rounds ago, is now placed in fifth after finishing a disappointing 31st at Sandown with Paul Weel.
In the adjusted standings where drivers get to drop their worst result in the series, Ambrose leads Skaife, Murphy, Bright and Ingall.
Tickets for the Bob Jane T-Marts 1000 are available from Ticketmaster7 on phone 1300 136 122 or through the official event website at www.bobjanetmarts1000.com.
Campground sites are currently available by contacting the Campground Coordinator on phone (07) 5588 6829.
--Bob Jane T-Marts 1000 press release
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