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SPECIAL

Ford Territory

SPECIAL

Ford Territory

New Ford V8 to Debut at GP Support Event

Staff, Monday March 3, 2003.

Page 1 of 1

Since the final round of the 2002 season at Sandown Raceway in Melbourne in late November, the Ford crews have been working non-stop to get their new cars on track.

Preparations were completed just days ahead of the Grand Prix meeting, with most teams only getting one day of testing.

Aboard BA Falcons to start the year will be Craig Lowndes (Ford Performance Racing), Marcos Ambrose (Pirtek Racing), Russell Ingall (Caltex Havoline Racing), Greg Ritter (00 Mototsport), Steve Johnson (Shell Helix Racing), Max Wilson (Shell Helix Racing), Brad Jones (OzEmail Race Team), John Bowe (OzEmail Race Team), Steve Ellery (Super Cheap Auto Racing), Paul Radisich (Team Betta Electrical), and Dean Canto (Team Betta Electrical).

One of the teams set to fly the flag in 2003 will be Stone Brothers Racing, with Marcos Ambrose (Pirtek Racing) and Ford new-boy Russell Ingall (Caltex Havoline Racing).

Ambrose was Ford?s best performer of 2002, finishing third in the championship and a winner last-time out at Sandown. In 2001 the Tasmania debuted at the Grand Prix with pole position.

?The Grand Prix may be a non-championship race, but it?s important from a team point of view to start the year with a good result,? said Ambrose.

?The BA looks great and the team have been working on the car for many months now. We were lucky to get two days testing on it before the trip to Melbourne and we?re confident that it will be quick straight out of the box.

?As a racer I?m looking forward to getting into the 2003 season and picking up from where we left off at Sandown.?

Ambrose?s new teammate Russell Ingall is a two-time winner of the Grand Prix support event at Albert Park, and despite being aboard a Ford for the first time he?s determined to start the year strong.

?I won back-to-back V8 events at the Grand Prix in 1997 and ?98, so a win aboard a Ford first time out would be a great start to my Blue Oval career,? said Ingall.

?I know that I?ve made the switch to Ford at the right time and with the new BA at my disposal there?s little doubt that we will be fighting at the front.

?My motivation for driving has never been so strong and Albert Park is one of my favourite tracks, so I can?t wait.?

Across the board the Ford teams offer a strong challenge in 2003. Craig Lowndes, Glenn Seton and David Besnard lead the charge for the recently formed Ford Performance Racing.

Lowndes took out the final race of last year?s Grand Prix V8 Support event. Running on slick tyres in damp conditions, Lowndes passed ten cars as the track dried to take the lead on the second last lap.

Other Ford drivers set to challenge in 2003 include Max Wilson and Steven Johnson at a resurgent Shell Helix Racing; 2000 Bathurst winner Jason Bargwanna now alongside Mark Larkham at Orrcon Steel Racing; and the OzEmail Race Team duo of John Bowe and Brad Jones, set to build on a strong 2002.

Action gets underway for the V8?s from Thursday 6 March, with races on the Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Network Ten will telecast all three V8 races, including for the first time the opening race on Friday afternoon.

Details for Grand Prix Support Event:

Ford?s V8 Line-up for the Grand Prix Support Event.

For further information contact:
Ben Beazley
Media Coordinator
Ford Racing
Phone: (03) 9596 9011
Mobile: 0417-262 753
Email: ben@segalmedia.com.au

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