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SPECIAL

Ford Territory

SPECIAL

Ford Territory

Ambrose Eyes Championship at Home V8 Race in Tasmania

Staff, Monday November 8, 2004.

Page 1 of 1

It?s the return of the V8 Supercar Championship Series to the Apple Isle for the first time since 1999, and it will be Ambrose?s V8 debut in his home state.

A native of Launceston, Ambrose will draw plenty of local support in what many people believe will be Tasmania?s largest ever sporting attendance.

Ambrose currently holds a 166-point championship lead over his closest competitor Jason Bright. With a maximum of 192 points available for the three-race round, Ambrose must beat Bright by six places and Greg Murphy by just one position, to wrap-up the title with one round remaining.

?It?s pretty much the perfect home coming,? said Ambrose.

?I?m really excited about racing for the first time at Symmons Plains and being well placed to win the title.

?I?m going to Tasmania to win the round. I?m fully aware of the championship, but we perform best when we go for victory.

?It?s my V8 race debut at Symmons Plains, but along with the team we?re confident of getting a handle on the track from the outset. Although there are some drivers with experience of the track, it?s been five years since the V8?s raced there. The fact that the cars have improved and the tyres have changed means everyone?s on a level playing field.

?I do have to rely on Jason Bright having a poor weekend, but as Indy showed that can happen.

?I?m sure it?s going to be one of the most exciting events of the 2004 season.?

Ambrose won?t be the only driver Tasmanians will be following, with two-time Bathurst winner and 1995 Series Champion John Bowe (OzEmail Racing) sure to draw plenty of support as well as fellow Devonport racer Owen Kelly (WPS Racing).

?As a proud Tasmanian I can now say that the V8 Supercar Championship Series is truly national again,? said Bowe.

?Like Marcos, I?m excited about racing at Symmons Plains. It?s a very challenging track with the hairpin at the end of the front straight sure to see plenty of action over the three races.

?For the Tasmanian fans who haven?t come to a race since 1999, they will not believe how the whole show of V8 Supercars has improved. It?s going to be the biggest thing ever in Tassie, that?s for sure!

?We?ve had a good year. The third placing at Bathurst was a good reward, but all things going well I?m aiming at having a real go at Symmons Plains.

?Yes I want to see Marcos win the championship, but I?d really like to see a stack of Fords at the front and us somewhere near the top of the order.?

For Owen Kelly the opportunity to race in Tasmania is a bonus after strong performances in this year?s Konica-Minolta V8 Series where he won a total of seven individual races.

Kelly has been drafted into the WPS Racing team for Tasmania and the final round at Sydney?s Eastern Creek replacing Alex Yoong.

?It is a great opportunity to run in the two races, especially at home in Tasmania,? said Kelly.

?It?s my first outing with the WPS Racing team but I?ll be working with a few familiar faces. The WPS Racing chief engineer Ian Walburn was actually my race engineer when we finished second at Symmons Plains in the 2000 Super Tourer round.

?My goals are realistic this time around, with a top-10 finish by the end of the weekend a strong possibility.

?I?ve had a good year with all rounds of the Konica-Minolta Series as well as Sandown and Bathurst. I?m very keen to finish the year on a high and impress teams still looking to finalise their line-ups for 2005.?

Symmons Plains will feature a fresh new look in 2004 with improved facilities including a new pit/corporate complex.

The V8 Supercars hit the track on Friday for opening practice, followed by further practice, qualifying, top-10 shootout and the opening 42-lap race on Saturday. Sunday completes the weekend with a further two 42-laps races. Each race features a compulsory tyre pit stop.

V8 Supercar details for Symmons Plains
Top 10 Shootout ? Saturday 13 November ? 2pm
Race 1 (42 laps ? 101.22km) ? Saturday 13 November ? 4pm
Race 2 (42 laps ? 101.22km) ? Sunday 14 November ? 12.05pm
Race 3 (42 laps ? 101.22km) ? Sunday 14 November ? 3pm

Circuit: Symmons Plains, Tasmania
Length: 2.41km
Lap Records:
Qualifying: Radisich 0:53.4381 (1999)
Race ? Lowndes 0:54.5805 (1996)

Estimated top speed: 250km/h ? Pit Straight
Estimated average speed: 140 km/h

Ford?s V8 Line-up for Symmons Plains

Ford V8 Milestones at Symmons Plains

75th start ? Brad Jones ? OzEmail Racing

V8 Supercar Championship after 11 of 13 rounds

For Further information contact:
Ben Beazley
Media Coordinator
Ford Racing Australia
Phone: 03 9359 8190
Mobile: 0417 262 753
Email: benb@global-marketing.com

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