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SPECIAL

Ford Territory

SPECIAL

Ford Territory

Ford Racing to Mark Falcon Milestone in Darwin

Staff, Tuesday June 28, 2005.

Page 1 of 1

On June 28, 1960, the first XK Falcon rolled off the production line at Broadmeadows, launching the longest continuous model line in Australian motoring history.

Since then, Australians have bought more than 3 million Falcons, making the iconic brand the biggest selling in the history of Australian motoring.

The Falcon 45 windscreen banners on the Ford V8 Supercars will be one of the highlights of the Falcon celebrations.

On the track Ford is out for victory in the top-end. Darwin is a place that has been kind to Stone Brothers Racing and in particular defending two-time Series Champion Marcos Ambrose (Pirtek Racing).

Ambrose scored his maiden V8 Supercar round win at Hidden Valley in 2001, he then backed that up in his first championship year in 2003. Overall Ambrose has scored 14 round wins since entering the V8 Supercar Championship Series at the start of 2001.

Ambrose started the year on a high with victory at the Clipsal 500. Since then he's battled to podium finishes at New Zealand, Perth and Eastern Creek. The recent round at Shanghai was the first time he'd finished off the podium in 2005 in fifth place.

"Luck was not on our side in the last round in China," said Ambrose.

"However, we still have a solid lead in the championship and it is important that we build on that, especially in Darwin and at our home track in Queensland in the following round.

"Our goal this season is to win our third straight championship for Ford, SBR, Pirtek and all our other sponsors and fans and we are on track to achieve that.

"Just because we have had success at a track in the past doesn't automatically mean we'll go well there this time. The competition just gets stronger and stronger at every round and everyone at SBR is working around the clock to ensure we stay ahead of the competition ? both Ford and Holden."

Another driver looking to make his mark in Darwin is CAT Ford Performance Racing's Jason Bright. Back aboard a Ford in Darwin for the first time since 1999, Bright is hoping for a strong result.

"I won up in Darwin with Stone Brothers in 1999 and was overseas in 2000, so it's been a while since I drove a Ford in the top-end," said Bright.

"We've had a bit of an up and down year, but China proved that we've found some consistency. Ideally we'll continue to improve this weekend.

"Over three races it's about being consistent. Darwin is hard on drivers, especially the last race.

"It's certainly a race and track that you really have to work hard to get a result. The conditions will be hot; at least 30 degrees C outside the car and you can almost double that inside."

"We are ready for the challenge and I'm sure we can be amongst the top group in the final results."

Darwin represents the last of the long-haul trips of 2005. The rest of the season's races are all on the east coast, as well as a trip south to Tasmania.

Teams hit the track for a two-hour session on Friday before qualifying, top-10 shootout and the opening 17-lap race. Sunday's action includes two 48-lap races.

Championship Standings after 5 of 13 rounds

1. Marcos Ambrose ? Pirtek Racing ? Ford Falcon BA 862pts
2. Russell Ingall ? Caltex Racing ? Ford Falcon BA ?81pts
3. Steven Richards ? Castrol Perkins Motorsport ? Holden Commodore ?91pts
4. Mark Skaife ? Holden Racing Team ? Holden Commodore ?172pts
5. Todd Kelly ? Holden Racing Team ? Holden Commodore ?182pts
6. Craig Lowndes ? Team Betta Electrical ? Ford Falcon BA ?250pts
7. Greg Murphy ? Super Cheap Auto Racing ? Holden Commodore ?258pts
8. Paul Radisich ? Team Kiwi ? Holden Commodore ?279pts
9. Steven Johnson ? Westpoint Racing ? Ford Falcon BA ?297pts
10. John Bowe ? Team BOC ? Ford Falcon BA ?299pts

Details for Hidden Valley:
Top- 10 Shootout - Saturday 2 July -? 12.30pm
Race 1 (17 laps ? 49.3km) ? Saturday 2 July ? 3pm
Race 2 (48 laps ? 139.2km) ? Sunday 3 July ? 11.50am
Race 3 (48 laps ? 139.2km) ? Sunday 3 July ? 2.50pm

Circuit: Hidden Valley Raceway (NT)
Length: 2.9km

Ford?s official V8 Line-up for Darwin

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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