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Front Page » Racing
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12 Hours - One Mountain - One Ford XR8
Staff, Tuesday April 3, 2007.
Page 1 of 1
John Bowe, Jack Elsegood and Chris Delfsma will team up this Easter and take on the 2007 Bathurst 12 Hour Showroom Enduro in a Ford BF Falcon XR8.
Demonstrating the high performance delivered by the Ford Falcon range, the black XR8 the talented trio will take to the track is a standard Falcon package with a modified exhaust and added roll cage.
Whilst Australia’s V8 Supercar industry is firmly entrenched as a category that utilises highly modified
Ford Falcons, the Bathurst 12 Hour provides a platform for manufacturers to showcase essentially production, showroom vehicles.
The black XR8 is owned by Delfsma who finished eighth in the 2006 Production Car Championship, but he will share his driver’s seat with Bowe and Elsegood during the 12 Hour – the race starting 5:45am on Sunday 8 April.
“I have competed in the Bathurst 12 Hour numerous times; Dick Johnson and I won outright in 1995,” John Bowe said.
“The 12 hour is a very different discipline in terms of race car driving. It’s a very long race and you have to drive with mechanical sympathy to cover the distance.
“The XR8 hasn’t been built from a bare body shell like a Falcon V8 Supercar, it has literally been taken off the showroom floor, had the exhaust modified and a roll cage added.
“Chris is a friend of mine, but he hasn’t been to Bathurst before so I’m going along to drive and give him advice. Our aim is to win the class.”
Whilst Bowe is in his V8 Supercar retirement year, the veteran has indicated that events such as the Bathurst 12 Hour are likely to form part of his future involvement in the sport.
“I’ve said all along that I am retiring from V8 Supercar racing, not from life, and not from racing production cars.”
“I’m a big supporter of the 12 hour – it has relevance to the motor industry because it is genuinely a showroom showdown.
“The cars racing are the cars people buy, and they are racing at Bathurst – one of the most torturous and demanding racetracks in the world.
“What’s also good is that I will learn things from this race that I can use in some of the product development programs that I am involved in.”
Former Sydney Roosters (NRL) star Elsegood is currently leading the 2007 V8 Ute Series after two rounds.
The two-time Cleo Bachelor of the Year finalist was recruited for the 12 Hour drive after displaying talent in a Falcon Ute at Bathurst.
“I was approached to drive in the 12 Hour as I’ve had some good results in the past at Bathurst in a Ute. I posted some good lap times and kept the car off the wall,” said Jack Elsegood.
“I’ve met John Bowe but I haven’t had much to do with him racing wise, so I’m absolutely looking forward to being in a team with him. It is sure to be a great learning curve.
“Bathurst is one of my favourite tracks alongside Phillip Island, I enjoy the fast circuits.”
Having competed last weekend in the V8 Utes at Wakefield Park, and spending his Easter break on the track for the 12 Hour, motorsport is fast becoming a major part of the full-time real estate agent’s life.
“Motorsport is taking up a lot of time right now, but it’s time that can always be found when you have passion for a sport.
“Driving production cars is a unique experience and it makes a big difference in terms of what the audience gets out of it.
“Whilst categories such as Formula Ford and Formula 3 provide great racing, 99 percent of people can’t relate as they haven’t been in those cars. With the Bathurst 12 Hour and the Utes series, essentially those are the vehicles people drive on the road day to day.”
Delfsma takes his XR8 to the track at Bathurst this Easter in his first attempt at conquering the mountain.
“Taking on the 12 Hour is something I’ve always wanted to do,” said Chris Delfsma.
“Everything came together and allowed it to happen this year, we wanted to bring John in for his experience at Bathurst and we are hoping to learn a lot from him.
“I drove some major tracks last year in this XR8 – Phillip Island, Queensland Raceway, Symmons Plains – but Bathurst has been the dream.
“Production races are quite unique – essentially the Falcon we will be driving has the same brakes as a standard car.
“We have a good team with Bowe and Elsegood on board. We are certainly aiming for a class victory.”
The 2007 event will be held over Easter (April 6-8) with the 12 Hour race commencing 5:45am Sunday 8 April. Two 50 minute practice sessions will be held on Friday, with one 50 minute practice session on Saturday followed by qualifying.
Around 40 cars are expected on the grid, with between two and four drivers allowed in each team. The event will be covered on the Nine Network and Foxtel.
FORD BF FALCON XR8 SPECS
Boss 260 engine 5.4-litre DOHC V8 4V Maximum Power 260kW @ 5250rpm Maximum Torque 500Nm @ 4000rpm Transmissions / Ratios Six-speed manual 1st 2.97 2nd 1.78 3rd 1.3 4th 1 5th 0.8 6th 0.63 Reverse 2.9 Final drive ratio 3Subscribe to Fords News feed.
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