Pirtek Racing’s Marcos Ambrose will take a small but handy points lead in the final of the 2003 V8 Supercar Series, the VIP Pet Foods Main Event at Sydney’s Eastern Creek from 28-30 November.
Ambrose has enjoyed a standout season, winning five rounds of the championship and in the process providing Ford its best opportunity of a championship since Glenn Seton’s title in 1997.
In what has been a great debut season for the BA model Falcon, Ford has scored eight wins from 12 rounds, with Ambrose’s teammate Russell Ingall (Caltex Havoline Racing) winning twice as well as victory to CAT Ford Performance Racing’s Craig Lowndes.
Ambrose’s mid-season streak of four wins straight at Eastern Creek, Winton, Perth and Darwin set up his championship challenge. A further win at Oran Park in August finally put him in the championship lead; a position he’s held onto since.
The most recent rounds at Sandown, Bathurst, Surfers Paradise and Pukekohe (NZ) have provided a tougher challenge. Championship rival Greg Murphy has scored two wins and closed the gap to just 6 points.
Under the adjusted points system, where the worst round is dropped, Ambrose holds a 24 point lead and needs to finish no further than four places behind Murphy to take the title. However, the Tasmanian will go all out to challenge for victory to guarantee the championship.
“I want to win the championship the best way possible and that’s by taking victory in the final round at Eastern Creek,” said Ambrose.
“Our recent performances have not been great, but importantly we still lead the championship and we’re determined to fight all way.
“Our preparation has been very good with an excellent pre-race test in Queensland on Monday. It was our first test since before Bathurst and we took the opportunity to try some new ideas ahead of the weekend.”
The last time Ambrose raced at Eastern Creek he led a Ford 1-2-3 with Lowndes in second and Ingall third. On that day the 27-year-old completely dominated the single 300km race.
The VIP Pet Foods Main Event is made up of two races; a 150km race on the Saturday with a 250km race on the Sunday. Adding an extra element to the weekend will be an entire 32-car single lap shootout to decide the starting position for the opening race.
“We had a great run that day, but it will be a lot tougher this time around,” said Ambrose.
“The competition has closed the gap to us since May and with a two race format and the different shootout it will be a whole new challenge.
“I’m not nervous, rather excited about having to give it everything to win this championship. You should never have it simply given to you, I want to earn the right to be champion.”
“I’ve enjoyed fantastic support throughout this year and I’d like to call on as many Ford fans as possible to come and be part of what will be a great season finale.”
Practice for the VIP Pet Foods Main Event will be held on Friday with a special ballot being held on Saturday morning to draw the running order of the full 32-car field shootout from 11.10am. The opening 39-lap race gets underway at 3pm that afternoon, with the final race of the 2003 V8 Supercar Championship Series (64 laps) starting at 2.30pm Sunday.
Top-10 Championship – after 12 of 13 rounds (non adjusted)
1. Marcos Ambrose - Pirtek Racing - Ford Falcon BA 1989pts
2. Greg Murphy - KMart Racing - Holden Commodore 1983pts
3. Mark Skaife - Holden Race Team - Holden Commodore 1859pts
4. Russell Ingall - Caltex Havoline Racing - Ford Falcon BA 1771pts
5. Craig Lowndes - CAT Ford Performance Racing - Ford Falcon BA 1646pts
6. Rick Kelly - KMart Racing - Holden Commodore 1636pts
7. Jason Bight - Team Brock - Holden Commodore 1584pts
8. Steven Richards - Castrol Perkins Racing - Holden Commodore 1571pts
9. Todd Kelly - Holden Race Team - Holden Commodore 1538pts
10. Paul Radisich - Team Betta Electrical - Ford Falcon BA 1477pts
Details for Eastern Creek:
Full Field Shootout - Saturday 29 November 11.10am
Race 1 (39 laps – 153.27km) – Saturday 29 November 3pm
Race 2 (64 laps – 251.52km) – Sunday 30 November 2.30pm
Circuit: Eastern Creek, New South Wales
Length: 3.93km
Lap Records:
Qualifying – Skaife 1:31.1923 (2003)
Shootout – Ambrose 1:30.8955 (2001)
Race – Skaife 1:31.7301 (2000)
Estimated top speed: 265km/h – Pit Straight
Estimated average speed: 147 km/h
Ford’s V8 Line-up for VIP Pet Foods Main Event
#4 Marcos Ambrose - Pirtek Racing
#9 Russell Ingall - Caltex Havoline Racing
#5 Glenn Seton - Ford Performance Racing
#6 Craig Lowndes - Ford Performance Racing
#7 David Besnard - Ford Performance Racing
#10 Mark Larkham - Orrcon Steel Racing
#20 Jason Bargwanna - Orrcon Steel Racing
#17 Steve Johnson - Shell Helix Racing
#18 Max Wilson - Shell Helix Racing
#21 Brad Jones - OzEmail Race Team
#888 John Bowe - OzEmail Race Team
#23 Mark Noske - ICS Team Ford
#31 Steve Ellery - Super Cheap Auto Racing
#65 Paul Radisich - Team Betta Electrical
#66 Dean Canto - Team Betta Electrical
#75 Anthony Tratt -Toll Racing
Ambrose has enjoyed a standout season, winning five rounds of the championship and in the process providing Ford its best opportunity of a championship since Glenn Seton’s title in 1997.
In what has been a great debut season for the BA model Falcon, Ford has scored eight wins from 12 rounds, with Ambrose’s teammate Russell Ingall (Caltex Havoline Racing) winning twice as well as victory to CAT Ford Performance Racing’s Craig Lowndes.
Ambrose’s mid-season streak of four wins straight at Eastern Creek, Winton, Perth and Darwin set up his championship challenge. A further win at Oran Park in August finally put him in the championship lead; a position he’s held onto since.
The most recent rounds at Sandown, Bathurst, Surfers Paradise and Pukekohe (NZ) have provided a tougher challenge. Championship rival Greg Murphy has scored two wins and closed the gap to just 6 points.
Under the adjusted points system, where the worst round is dropped, Ambrose holds a 24 point lead and needs to finish no further than four places behind Murphy to take the title. However, the Tasmanian will go all out to challenge for victory to guarantee the championship.
“I want to win the championship the best way possible and that’s by taking victory in the final round at Eastern Creek,” said Ambrose.
“Our recent performances have not been great, but importantly we still lead the championship and we’re determined to fight all way.
“Our preparation has been very good with an excellent pre-race test in Queensland on Monday. It was our first test since before Bathurst and we took the opportunity to try some new ideas ahead of the weekend.”
The last time Ambrose raced at Eastern Creek he led a Ford 1-2-3 with Lowndes in second and Ingall third. On that day the 27-year-old completely dominated the single 300km race.
The VIP Pet Foods Main Event is made up of two races; a 150km race on the Saturday with a 250km race on the Sunday. Adding an extra element to the weekend will be an entire 32-car single lap shootout to decide the starting position for the opening race.
“We had a great run that day, but it will be a lot tougher this time around,” said Ambrose.
“The competition has closed the gap to us since May and with a two race format and the different shootout it will be a whole new challenge.
“I’m not nervous, rather excited about having to give it everything to win this championship. You should never have it simply given to you, I want to earn the right to be champion.”
“I’ve enjoyed fantastic support throughout this year and I’d like to call on as many Ford fans as possible to come and be part of what will be a great season finale.”
Practice for the VIP Pet Foods Main Event will be held on Friday with a special ballot being held on Saturday morning to draw the running order of the full 32-car field shootout from 11.10am. The opening 39-lap race gets underway at 3pm that afternoon, with the final race of the 2003 V8 Supercar Championship Series (64 laps) starting at 2.30pm Sunday.
Top-10 Championship – after 12 of 13 rounds (non adjusted)
1. Marcos Ambrose - Pirtek Racing - Ford Falcon BA 1989pts
2. Greg Murphy - KMart Racing - Holden Commodore 1983pts
3. Mark Skaife - Holden Race Team - Holden Commodore 1859pts
4. Russell Ingall - Caltex Havoline Racing - Ford Falcon BA 1771pts
5. Craig Lowndes - CAT Ford Performance Racing - Ford Falcon BA 1646pts
6. Rick Kelly - KMart Racing - Holden Commodore 1636pts
7. Jason Bight - Team Brock - Holden Commodore 1584pts
8. Steven Richards - Castrol Perkins Racing - Holden Commodore 1571pts
9. Todd Kelly - Holden Race Team - Holden Commodore 1538pts
10. Paul Radisich - Team Betta Electrical - Ford Falcon BA 1477pts
Details for Eastern Creek:
Full Field Shootout - Saturday 29 November 11.10am
Race 1 (39 laps – 153.27km) – Saturday 29 November 3pm
Race 2 (64 laps – 251.52km) – Sunday 30 November 2.30pm
Circuit: Eastern Creek, New South Wales
Length: 3.93km
Lap Records:
Qualifying – Skaife 1:31.1923 (2003)
Shootout – Ambrose 1:30.8955 (2001)
Race – Skaife 1:31.7301 (2000)
Estimated top speed: 265km/h – Pit Straight
Estimated average speed: 147 km/h
Ford’s V8 Line-up for VIP Pet Foods Main Event
#4 Marcos Ambrose - Pirtek Racing
#9 Russell Ingall - Caltex Havoline Racing
#5 Glenn Seton - Ford Performance Racing
#6 Craig Lowndes - Ford Performance Racing
#7 David Besnard - Ford Performance Racing
#10 Mark Larkham - Orrcon Steel Racing
#20 Jason Bargwanna - Orrcon Steel Racing
#17 Steve Johnson - Shell Helix Racing
#18 Max Wilson - Shell Helix Racing
#21 Brad Jones - OzEmail Race Team
#888 John Bowe - OzEmail Race Team
#23 Mark Noske - ICS Team Ford
#31 Steve Ellery - Super Cheap Auto Racing
#65 Paul Radisich - Team Betta Electrical
#66 Dean Canto - Team Betta Electrical
#75 Anthony Tratt -Toll Racing