CATEGORIES
- Ask ColCam
- Commercials
- Full Ford
- Going Ford
- Industry News
- My Wheels
- Racing
- Events
- Test Drive
- Ford Dealer List
SPECIAL
Ford Territory
SPECIAL
Ford Territory
2007 FOCUS
$25,888
2007 TERRITORY
$35,888
2008 FOCUS
$23,888
2007 FOCUS
$28,888
2008 FALCON
$29,888
2008 FPV
$55,888
$25,888
2007 TERRITORY
$35,888
2008 FOCUS
$23,888
2007 FOCUS
$28,888
2008 FALCON
$29,888
2008 FPV
$55,888
Front Page
Shell Shocker in the Valley
Staff, Sunday May 13, 2001.
Page 1 of 1
Shell Helix Racing had an uncharacteristically miserable weekend at Darwin's Hidden Valley circuit.
Today's pair of 35 lap mini-enduros, complete with pit-stops, saw Steve Johnson the sole Shell Helix Racing representative after persistent fuel problems sidelined three of the team's four engines.
Despite a day of dramas, Johnson put in two strong drives in the extremely hot conditions to finish 18th overall and add 72 points to his championship tally.
Johnson's first race began badly when an opening lap altercation saw the Shell car's nosecone ripped off, car 17 dropping two laps as the team battled to fit a replacement.
Back in the battle, Johnson was lapping as quickly as the leaders with the temporary nose as he worked his way back to 26th in the 32-car field.
Race two saw Johnson make a conservative start, but he again got hit, knocking the steering about a quarter of a turn out of alignment.
Despite that, and en engine that began losing power as early as lap two, Johnson continued, staying out of trouble, before slowly picking off the slower cars in front.
By mid race he was 19th (from 26th) and, thanks to some extra quick work in pitlane by the Shell Helix crew, that became 16th he consolidated to the end.
"I did what I could do but it wasn't a lot," Steve Johnson said.
"With the steering knocked out of alignment it was more difficult and with the engine problem I didn't have a lot of power, but I guess this result proves it's always worth pressing on.
"After a couple of bad meetings I'm looking forward to going to Canberra which was very good for me last year."
Shell Helix Racing teammate Paul Radisich didn't even get that far, non-starting today's two races when his engine failed during the morning warm-up session.
A temperature-related fuel system problem damaged the engines in both Radisich and Johnson's cars yesterday, necessitating a swap to the team's two spares.
But when Radisich's spare also suffered the same fate in the warm-up this morning, he was forced into guest television commentary duties for the day.
"These things happen in motor racing sometimes but it's incredibly frustrating, as you can imagine," Paul Radisich said.
"Shell Helix Racing is known for the strength and power of its engines so this situation is a real surprise, certainly the only time it's happened to the team or me in memory.
"I am very, very disappointed because after yesterday's race I felt we could get a good result today but with one engine left the team had to make a choice, and Steven is certainly better positioned in the pointscore.
"I enjoyed watching the races from the commentary booth, it's very interesting to see it from the outside, but there's no question I'd rather be out there."
Jill Johnson and Natalie Lowndes had the last of their match races in the team Lasers, entertaining the crowds and pitlane with a race-long duel the demonstrated both had learned a few 'tricks' from their husbands.
For further information contact:
Ben Beazley
Media Coordinator
Ford Racing
Phone: (03) 9533 4455
Mobile: 0417 262 753
Email: ben@segalmedia.com.au
