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Front Page
Ford V8 Teams Ready to Shake NZ
Staff, Monday November 3, 2003.
Page 1 of 1
Leading the charge will be a team owned by two Kiwi brothers Jimmy and Ross Stone, with championship leader Marcos Ambrose (Pirtek Racing) and the winner of the Gold Coast round just two weeks prior, Russell Ingall (Caltex Havoline Racing).
Ambrose has tasted victory five times in 2003 and with seven Fords filling the top 10 places on the Gold Coast, the battle for victory could be between a number of Falcon teams.
The major opposition is expected to come from Greg Murphy, who has won the previous two events at Pukekohe. However, with so many long-standing winless streaks at circuits broken for Ford in 2003, Pukekohe represents another opportunity for the Blue Oval to open another new chapter.
?Last year we came within a couple of laps of winning the whole thing before a tyre puncture, so we know the track very well? said Ambrose.
?We feel that we?re the Ford team that Kiwis should get behind and I know that Jimmy and Ross would count this event as a special one to win.
?In terms of the championship, I will remain aggressive. I didn?t qualify well on the Gold Coast, but raced hard and got fourth overall.?
Ambrose requires an average eighth place finish in the final two rounds to take the title.
Ingall will drive a Ford in New Zealand for the first time. After two wins so far in 2003 he?s keen to get more of that feeling and close the gap in the championship chase.
?I have to keep on winning; there?s no conservative approach from me,? said Ingall.
?I enjoy winning races and if that helps the championship, well then all the better.
?In terms of the competition, I know Murphy will be tough, but don?t count out some of the other Ford teams. They?re getting stronger and it won?t be just one Ford team that will be out to do the job in NZ.?
Another New Zealand favourite is Team Betta Electrical?s Paul Radisich. The former two-time World Touring Car Challenge holder is keen to break his hometown hoodoo with the BA Falcon and a new team for 2003.
?The last couple of years have been very disappointing, but I?m determined to give it everything in 2003,? said Radisich.
?We?ve been improving throughout the year and with us consistently qualifying in the top 10, we?re in with a good chance at Pukekohe.
?Over three races we?ll be very consistent and with strong pit stops we?ll be right up there.
?We?re keen to score a win before the end of the year, and if we can do that it will help Ford secure the title.?
Practice and qualifying for the PlaceMakers V8 International gets underway on Friday, with a top-10 shootout and the opening race on Saturday. Sunday completes the weekend with two 150-kilometre races. All races include compulsory tyre stops.
Top-10 Championship ? after 11 of 13 rounds
| 1. Marcos Ambrose | Pirtek Racing | Ford Falcon BA | 1867pts |
| 2. Greg Murphy | Kmart Racing | Holden Commodore | 1795pts |
| 3. Russell Ingall | Caltex Havoline Racing | Ford Falcon BA | 1703pts |
| 4. Mark Skaife | Holden Race Team | Holden Commodore | 1681pts |
| 5. Craig Lowndes | CAT Ford Performance Racing | Ford Falcon BA | 1540pts |
| 6. Rick Kelly | Kmart Racing | Holden Commodore | 1490pts |
| 7. Jason Bright | Team Brock | Holden Commodore | 1438pts |
| 8. Steven Richards | Castrol Perkins Racing | Holden Commodore | 1437pts |
| 9. Todd Kelly | Holden Race Team | Holden Commodore | 1350pts |
| 10. Paul Radisich | Team Betta Electrical | Ford Falcon BA | 1319pts |
Details for Pukekohe Park Raceway ? New Zealand
Top 10 Shootout ? Saturday 8 November ? 11.55am
Race 1 (36 laps ? 100.8km) ? Saturday 8 November ? 2.35pm
Race 2 (54 laps ? 151.2km) ? Sunday 9 November ? 12.30pm
Race 3 (54 laps ? 151.2km) ? Sunday 9 November ? 4pm
Circuit: Pukekohe Park Raceway
Length: 2.8km
Lap Records:
Qualifying ? Murphy 0:56.9591 (2001)
Shootout ? Murphy 0:56.9052 (2001)
Race ? Seton 0:57.3500 (1996)
Estimated top speed: 275km/h ? Back Straight
Estimated average speed: 155 km/h
Ford?s V8 Line-up for PlaceMakers V8 International
#4 Marcos Ambrose - Pirtek Racing
#9 Russell Ingall - Caltex Havoline Racing
#5 Glenn Seton - Ford Performance Racing
#6 Craig Lowndes - Ford Performance Racing
#7 David Besnard - Ford Performance Racing
#10 Mark Larkham - Orrcon Steel Racing
#20 Jason Bargwanna - Orrcon Steel Racing
#17 Steve Johnson - Shell Helix Racing
#18 Max Wilson - Shell Helix Racing
#21 Brad Jones - OzEmail Race Team
#888 John Bowe - OzEmail Race Team
#23 Mark Noske - INXS Team Ford
#31 Steve Ellery - Super Cheap Auto Racing
#65 Paul Radisich - Team Betta Electrical
#66 Dean Canto - Team Betta Electrical
#75 Anthony Tratt -Toll Racing
For further information contact:
Ben Beazley
Media Manager
Ford Racing Australia
Phone: 03 9359 8901
Mobile: 0417 262 753
Email: benb@global-marketing.com
Further information and high-resolution images relating to Ford Racing Australia can also be found at: media.ford.com
