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SPECIAL

Ford Territory

SPECIAL

Ford Territory

Ford V8?s Ready for Grand Prix Event

Staff, Tuesday March 1, 2005.

Page 1 of 1

While most of the attention is sure to be focused on defending two-time V8 Supercar Champion Marcos Ambrose (Pirtek Racing), he?ll feel the heat from a number of other Ford teams that have strengthened their line-ups in the off-season.

?The Grand Prix has plenty of good memories, including pole position in my first ever V8 Supercar race in 2001,? said Ambrose.

?I?m keen to repeat that this year, but I have to say that with the improvements the other Ford teams have made it will be far from easy.

?I expect a tough challenge from the other Ford teams from the Grand Prix onwards. Winning the championship this year will be a mighty challenge, but I?m focused on doing that.

?The Grand Prix provides us all with a great opportunity to really shake things down before the Clipsal 500 in two weeks time.?

Driver movements and new sponsor deals have dominated the off-season talk, now all that activity will be on public show from Thursday?s first practice session.

Stealing a lot of attention will be Team Betta Electrical, which has added three-time champion Craig Lowndes and the ultra competitive Steve Ellery.

?There have been some big changes for our team, but we believe we?ve got the chemistry right from the start,? said Lowndes.

?There?s no doubt Marcos remains the man to beat, but we?re in the game to win and that includes the Grand Prix.

?The Grand Prix is non-championship, but it?s still is a key indicator for the year ahead. You want to go well at Albert Park and keep it rolling for the rest of the season.?

It?s also a fresh look for Dick Johnson?s newly liveried Westpoint Racing. The legendary Ford team has also added another one of Ford?s favourite sons in Glenn Seton.

?I know a lot of people are excited about Dick and I joining forces, now it?s time to show just what can be achieved in 2005,? said Seton.

?I really like the Grand Prix event, it?s a huge weekend of racing and plenty of people come out to see the V8?s.

?I?m more than aware that we?re in Ford?s home town and Victorian fans won?t see us again until the Sandown 500 in September. I?m sure all the Ford teams, including us, will give them plenty to cheer about.

?Certainly my career has been dominated by the colour blue and I?m pleased to once again be driving a ?True Blue? Falcon in 2005.?

The Ford V8 drivers have a busy week of events in Melbourne at and around the Grand Prix. Included will be the Grand Prix Street Parade and autograph session at lunchtime on Wednesday; appearances on the Ford stand at the Melbourne Motor Show and autograph sessions at the Albert Park track over the weekend.

All three V8 Supercar races will be shown live on Network Ten (check local guides) from Friday afternoon.

The race schedule includes practice and qualifying on Thursday, race #1 (10 laps) on Friday from 3.30pm; race #2 (19 lap ? 100km) on Saturday from 2.30pm and the final 10-lap race on Sunday from 11.20am.

Ford?s V8 Line-up for GP Weekend

For further information contact:
Ben Beazley
Media Coordinator
Ford Racing Australia
Phone: 03 9359 8190
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

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