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SPECIAL

Ford Territory

SPECIAL

Ford Territory

Pirtek Rally Team Ready for the West

Staff, Monday May 15, 2006.

Page 1 of 1

The team completed nearly 250-kilometres of testing in Sydney and Melbourne, with only minor interruptions over the two days of running.

The Focus ran at Riverside Oaks Country Club as part of the launch of the XR5 Turbo road car on Thursday 4 May. The day doubled as a test session for the team, with over 100-kilometres of running for the Focus.

The Pirtek Rally Team returned to Melbourne where it ran 150-kilometres on Monday 8 May outside of Trentham. At this test, the team evaluated new softer compound tyres from Hankook as well as set-up changes by driver Michael Guest.

"By far the best testing we have done of the car," said Guest.

"I'm now really starting to feel at home in the Focus. Improving the strength of the car has given me much greater confidence to drive t 100 percent.

"During the Melbourne test I really worked on adjusting the car to how I like it. The good thing is that the Focus is very responsive to changes and we are getting better speed.

"We ran a softer tyre from Hankook, which was a big improvement. Like the car, I'm getting a better feeling for the tyres as well. Tyres are a very important part of the package and together with Hankook we are looking at even further improvements."

Pirtek Rally Team Director Steve Hoinville was pleased with the testing program.

"A good couple of days for the team," said Hoinville.

"We really worked on the car since our non-finish in Canberra and all the areas we identified have come through without a drama.

"We encountered only a few minor issues, which didn't cause too many disruptions.

"The new engine will not run in WA. We thought it was better to continue to concentrate on the package we have, and then make a decision after the event on running the new motor in Queensland next month.

"At the Forest Rally we'll be looking at improving the car over the course of the weekend. Getting the full complement of kilometres on the car is very important in WA."

The stages outside Busselton and the township of Nannup are made-up of loose gravel. The Pirtek rally Team is hopeful of some pre-event rain to harden the stages.

"The roads in this event are not your typical ball-bearing roads that you experience closer to Perth," said Guest.

"Hopefully some rain in the lead-up to the event will compact the surface and give us better traction.

"In WA we will be very happy with a top-10 result ? but really we want to perform strongly and most importantly finish the event.

"We are especially looking forward to the short tarmac stages to set a good time against our competitors."

The Quit Forest Rally will be the first event for co-driver Mark Stacey. Stacey missed the Canberra event due to his commitments in the Asia-Pacific Rally Championship.

"I've only sat in the car for a seat fitting at this stage," said Stacey.

"However, Michael and I have worked together extensively and I know the professionalism of the team.

"I have not competed at the Forest Rally since 2003 when I co-drove Possum Bourne, so it will be good to get back to that event.

"The important thing is that both Michael and I know the stages well. That will be a big advantage on the tricky sections."

Guest and Stacey will take place in reconnaissance on Thursday before a media shakedown at the Barnard Park superstage on the waterfront in Busselton on the Friday morning.

The Quit Forest Rally starts on Friday evening with two runs on the tarmac around Barnard Park. The forest stages will be run around Nannup throughout Saturday. The second leg of the event starts on Saturday evening with another two runs on the Busselton stage before concluding the forest stages again on Sunday.

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