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Reigning Blue at Sandown

Staff, Tuesday June 10, 2008.

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Ford dominated without doubt at Sandown in Melbourne this long weekend, taking a triple podium with Jamie Whincup at the top and Mark Winterbottom’s second accelerating him to the Championship lead.

The clean sweep weekend started with Whincup taking pole on Saturday to move seamlessly through to a round win, and Ford took out three races.

With the new FG01 making its highly anticipated debut, the winning results that saw James Courtney third overall, reinforced the strength and speed evident in Ford’s V8 Supercar crop.

The youngest driver in the field, 19 year old Shane Van Gisbergen and Courtney’s Stone Brothers Racing teammate, put in an undeniably impressive performance, one step off the podium with fourth for the round.

Dark and intermittent race conditions towards the end of the weekend’s racing during the third 39 lap sprint race today on the 3.1 kilometre circuit, Melbourne were no hindrance to the unrelenting competitiveness of the Falcons.

Reigning Blue at Sandown

"We couldn’t have asked for a better result to top off the successful roll out of our new FG01 V8 Supercar," said Ford Racing Manager, Ray Price.

"I try to resist dropping numbers but race two saw Ford hold the top six positions, and race three the top four. In the final sprint today we had seven of our guys in the top ten."

"The reveal of FG01, taking to the track each day for laps to display the result of 18 months of hard work developing the prototype, was received beyond expectations."

"It’s an extremely rewarding feeling for our teams especially Ford Performance Racing who have put endless man hours and resources into building the car."

"FPR made additional sacrifices and contributions throughout the weekend to ensure the public and the V8 Supercar industry had the best chance to witness the future of Ford Racing in the category."

FG01 completed laps on each day of the Saturday, Sunday, Monday event, showing off the stunning ‘Nitro’ blue with white themed livery and new styling based on the Ford FG Falcon XR8 road car package.

Reigning Blue at Sandown

James Courtney was behind the wheel with fellow Ford man and Channel Seven star Grant Denyer his passenger.

Ford’s stellar V8 Supercar line-up next heads to Darwin for round six of the V8 Supercar Championship series (4- 6 July).

Reigning Blue at Sandown

Craig Lowndes – who won Sandown’s race two and unfortunately surrendered his pole position for race three, unable to start due to a broken axle during the warm up lap – is chasing a return to form and a repeat of his round win at the 2007 event.

For all things Ford Racing and exclusive content visit www.fordracing.com.au

SANDOWN ROUND TOP TEN
1. #88 Jamie Whincup, TeamVodafone, Ford
2. #5 Mark Winterbottom, FPR, Ford
3. #4 James Courtney, Jeld-Wen Racing, Ford
4. #9 Shane Van Gisbergen, SP Tools Racing, Ford
5. #39 Russell Ingall, Supercheap, Holden
6. #888 Craig Lowndes, TeamVodafone, Ford
7. #1 Garth Tander, HRT, Holden
8. #7 Todd Kelly, Jack Daniels Racing, Holden
9. #17 Steven Johnson, Jim Beam Racing, Ford
10. #15 Rick Kelly, HSV Dealer Team, Holden

2008 V8 SUPERCAR CHAMPIONSHIP TOP TEN
1. #5 Mark Winterbottom, FPR, Ford – 1124
2. #1 Garth Tander, HRT, Holden – 1072
3. #88 Jamie Whincup, TeamVodafone, Ford – 1062
4. #15 Rick Kelly, HSV Dealer Team, Holden – 1028
5. #888 Craig Lowndes, TeamVodafone, Ford – 897
6. #6 Steven Richards, Castrol FPR, Ford – 839
7. #4 James Courtney, Jeld-Wen Racing, Ford – 811
8. #33 Lee Holdsworth, Valvoline, Holden – 760
9. #18 Will Davison, Jim Beam Racing, Ford -752
10. #7 Todd Kelly, Jack Daniels Racing, Holden – 726

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