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Ford Heroes Out to End Bathurst Duck

Staff, Monday October 3, 2005.

Page 1 of 1

Nothing short of victory at the Super Cheap Auto 1000 is the goal of Ford at Bathurst on Sunday October 9.

Ford has not enjoyed victory at Mount Panorama since 1998 and despite three of its most successful seasons in Australian V8 Supercar racing, winning the 'Great Race' has eluded the Blue Oval.

Last year Ford came agonisingly close with every place from second through to seventh.

This year it brings a line-up of seven officially supported teams with 28 drivers covering 209 starts at Mount Panorama.

The most experiences duo will be Brad Jones and John Bowe who both have 20 starts each, while the most experienced individual driver is Glenn Seton with 21 starts.

If there had to be a sentimental Ford favourite it would be Seton. The two-time V8 Supercar champion has never won at Bathurst. He has however finished second on three occasions, including twice over the last two years.

This year also marks the 40th anniversary since his father Bo (Barry) Seton won aboard a Ford Cortina GT500.

Ten years ago Glenn Seton came within 9 laps of winning the 'Great Race' when engine dramas ended his run.

This year he's aboard Dick Johnson's Westpoint Racing #18 Falcon with Dean Canto.

"I'm feeling very good going into the race this year," said Seton.

"Qualifying hasn't been great this year, but we have had strong race cars and over 1000 kilometres we have a great package.

"There's been a lot of Ford attention given to the likes of Marcos Ambrose, Russell Ingall and clearly right now Craig Lowndes has a lot of momentum. That's OK; we'll go about our business and let them take the spotlight. However, I won't be disappointed to take the headlines come Sunday afternoon.

"Bathurst is the single most important race for us as drivers. It remains one of Australia's greatest sporting events and like an AFL or NRL Grand Final, Melbourne Cup horse race or even the Sydney to Hobart Yacht race; people across the country really take notice of the race at Bathurst.

"When my father won in 1965 I was there, but I was just over five months old! It was a pretty tough pill to swallow 10 years ago when we got so close. However, we have won many races since and I'm still at the top end of the sport, so things aren't all that bad.

"The thing about coming so close to winning the race is probably more emotional for Ford fans than me. I do take great pride in the support I receive and winning the race would be a tribute to those who have followed my career for so many years.

"Ford has not deserved it's drought at Bathurst, the Blue Oval is due and we'll give it everything to win."

When it comes to a team that is always in the hunt at Bathurst it's the Brad Jones / John Bowe duo of Team BOC.

Bowe has won Bathurst twice in 1989 and '94 with Dick Johnson. For Jones it's been as close as you can get without taking the title, finishing second and third on three separate occasions.

In recent years Jones has finished second with John Cleland in 2001 and third last year with Bowe.

"Bathurst is why we race," said Jones.

"You can win championships, but winning that race is tougher; believe me!

"It's the place that inspired me to make a career in racing and it remains the single most important goal for me to achieve, it's as simple as that.

"You know when I look back at how close I've come to winning Bathurst, it actually gets me frustrated. In 1994 I was with an unknown driver at the time, Craig Lowndes, and ironically it was John Bowe who passed Craig to win the race! In 2001 John Cleland and I qualified 21st, but we drove through the field and at the end we were less than three seconds behind Mark Skaife and Tony Longhurst.

"The thing is our competitors know we are a force at Bathurst and that does make us feel good. I can tell you it'll be the same this year; we are going there to win it!

"I know that Ford have had a lot of celebrations plans put on hold for a few years now. A win for the Blue Oval will be enjoyed by everyone. I hope I'm leading the celebrations!"

The focus on team work will be fully evident at Bathurst. Teams will have to make multiple pit stops, including driver changes, fuel, tyres and a compulsory brake pad change. Making the right call on when to stop will be critical to winning the race.

All teams hit the track from Thursday 6 October for practice. Friday includes practice and qualifying, with Saturday including another practice session and top-10 shootout. Sunday's 161-lap race starts at 10am.

Details for Bathurst:
Top-10 Shootout - Saturday 8 October ? 3.40pm
Race (161 laps ? 1000.293km) ? Sunday 9 October ? 10am

Circuit: Mount Panorama ? Bathurst (New South Wales)
Length: 6.213km

Ford?s V8 Line-up for Bathurst

#1	Marcos Ambrose (Tas) / Warren Luff (NSW)	Pirtek Racing
#9	Russell Ingall (SA) / Luke Youlden (Vic)	Caltex Racing
#5	Greg Ritter (Vic) / Cameron McLean (Qld)	Ford Credit/FPV Ford Performance Racing
#6	Jason Bright (Vic) / David Brabham (Eng)	CAT Ford Performance Racing
#10	Matt Halliday (NZ) / Alain Menu (Swi)	Orrcon Steel Racing
#20	Jason Bargwanna (NSW) / Mark Winterbottom (NSW)	Orrcon Steel Racing
#12	John Bowe (Tas) / Brad Jones (NSW)	Team BOC
#21	John Cleland (Sco) / Dale Brede (ACT)	Team BOC
#17	Steve Johnson (Qld) / Will Davison (Vic)	Westpoint Racing
#18	Glenn Seton (NSW) / Dean Canto (NSW)	Westpoint Racing
#25	Steve Owen (Vic) / Matthew White (Vic)	Fujitsu Racing
#52	Jose Fernandez (NSW) / Damien White (NSW)	Fujitsu Racing
#88	Steve Ellery (Vic) / Adam Macrow (Vic)	Team Betta Electrical
#888	Craig Lowndes (Vic) / Yvan Muller (Fra)	Team Betta Electrical

Championship Standings after 9 of 13 rounds

1. Marcos Ambrose	Pirtek Racing	Ford Falcon BA	1486pts
2. Russell Ingall	Caltex Racing	Ford Falcon BA	?78pts
3. Steven Richards	Castrol Perkins Motorsport	Holden Commodore	?119pts
4. Craig Lowndes	Team Betta Electrical	Ford Falcon BA	?225pts
5. Todd Kelly	Holden Racing Team	Holden Commodore	?233pts
6. Mark Skaife	Holden Racing Team	Holden Commodore	?284pts
7. Garth Tander	SV Dealer Team	Holden Commodore	-342pts
8. Jason Bright	CAT Ford Performance Racing	Ford Falcon BA	-390pts
9. Steven Johnson	Westpoint Racing	Ford Falcon BA	?444pts
10. Glenn Seton	Westpoint Racing	Ford Falcon BA	-448pts

For Further information contact:
Ben Beazley
Media Coordinator
Ford Racing Australia
Phone: 03 9359 8190
Mobile: 0417 262 753
Email: bbeazle3@ford.com

Further information and high-resolution images relating to Ford Racing Australia can also be found at : media.ford.com

2005 Endurance Line-up (picture, top right)

BACK

Steve Owen ? Fujitsu Racing
Jose Fernandez - Fujitsu Racing
Matthew White - Fujitsu Racing
Damien White - Fujitsu Racing
John Bowe ? Team BOC
Brad Jones ? Team BOC
Dale Brede ? Team BOC
John Cleland ? Team BOC

MIDDLE

David Brabham ? CAT Ford Performance Racing
Cameron McLean ? Ford Credit / FPV Ford Performance Racing
Yvan Muller ? Team Betta Electrical
Adam Macrow ? Team Betta Electrical
Luke Youlden ? Caltex Racing
Warren Luff ? Pirtek Racing
Alain Menu ? Orrcon Steel Racing
Matt Halliday ? Orrcon Steel Racing
Dean Canto ? Westpoint Racing
Will Davison ? Westpoint Racing

FRONT

Jason Bright ? CAT Ford Performance Racing
Greg Ritter ? Ford Credit / FPV Ford Performance Racing
Craig Lowndes ? Team Betta Electrical
Steve Ellery ? Team Betta Electrical
Russell Ingall ? Caltex Racing
Marcos Ambrose ? Pirtek Racing
Jason Bargwanna ? Orrcon Steel Racing
Mark Winterbottom ? Orrcon Steel Racing
Glenn Seton ? Westpoint Racing
Steven Johnson ? Westpoint Racing

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