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Ambrose Chases V8 Title at Eastern Creek Decider

3K views 22 replies 18 participants last post by  Rodp 
#1 ·
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
 
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#2 ·
i have no doubt lloking back at his 40+second win from eastern creek earlier this year he will have no problems winning this round and claiming the championship..

unless some holden tries to take him out,which wont suprise me if it happens,i can see murphy frying his tyres to keep up but seeing how ambrose led and kept it at eastern creek last time round they'll have fun trying to keep up let alone win it..

GO AMBROSE and good luck to the other ford teams.
 
#3 ·
Don't forget, though, that HRT were only out of the picture due to the splitting wheels problem which is well behind them. It has previously been a happy hunting ground for them, and I expect nothing less than the usual high standards from HRT.

All the best, Ambrose!

Cheers....... Tim
 
#4 ·
Zantetsuken said:
Don't forget, though, that HRT were only out of the picture due to the splitting wheels problem which is well behind them. It has previously been a happy hunting ground for them, and I expect nothing less than the usual high standards from HRT.

All the best, Ambrose!

Cheers....... Tim
Exactally my thoughts Tim
 
#9 ·
I have full trust in Ambrose that he will do his best to beat those Holden idiots and prove that the BA is capable of what it was made for...winning. But if he dosen't win, I can see that next year will be even better than this year is.
 
#14 ·
FordHawk said:
Good Luck SBR and in particular Marcos...go the Tassie Devil!!!

...and to think I am going to miss it because of a 50th birthday party..
WHHAAAT?? no excuse hehe sneak away for a couple of hours get a tele and watch :) or jump on the net...
 
#16 ·
The party (not really a party...more of a gathering) is at a restaurant...so I won't be able to get on the net...or find a TV. I am so annoyed that I will miss it, it's for lunch though...so I might be able to watch the end of the coverage...I don't know how long we will be there for. Who knows, I may even get back home at 3:00 which would suffice.
 
#21 ·
VIP Petfoods Main Event - Eastern Creek Raceway, Round 13
28/11/2003 - 30/11/2003


RACE RESULTS Back

Practice

Race Day: Friday, 11:50-12:25 Race Duration: 35 Minutes Reverse Grid: N

Pos Car Entrant Driver Vehicle Laps Fastest Lap Fastest Lap Time Gap
1 4 Pirtek Racing Marcos Ambrose Ford Falcon BA 16 16 1:32.8504
2 1 Holden Racing Team Mark Skaife Holden Commodore VY 16 16 1:33.0213 0:00.1709
3 3 Lansvale Smash Repairs Cameron McConville Holden Commodore VX 15 15 1:33.2961 0:00.4457
4 9 Caltex Havoline Race Team Russell Ingall Ford Falcon BA 16 13 1:33.5181 0:00.6677
5 888 OzEmail Racing Team John Bowe Ford Falcon BA 17 17 1:33.7095 0:00.8591
6 8 Castrol Perkins Racing Team Paul Dumbrell Holden Commodore VX 16 16 1:33.7384 0:00.8880
7 65 Betta Electrical Paul Radisich Ford Falcon BA 14 10 1:33.8630 0:01.0126
8 15 K-Mart Racing Team Rick Kelly Holden Commodore VX 15 13 1:33.8893 0:01.0389
9 17 Shell Helix Racing Steven Johnson Ford Falcon BA 16 13 1:33.9113 0:01.0609
10 33 Garry Rogers Motorsport Jamie Whincup Holden Commodore VY 18 16 1:33.9140 0:01.0636
11 29 Sirromet - Life Style Wine Paul Morris Holden Commodore VY 12 12 1:33.9169 0:01.0665
12 18 Shell Helix Racing Max Wilson Ford Falcon BA 17 7 1:33.9182 0:01.0678
13 16 Team Brock Paul Weel Holden Commodore VX 17 17 1:33.9811 0:01.1307
14 66 Betta Electrical Dean Canto Ford Falcon BA 16 14 1:34.0773 0:01.2269
15 11 Castrol Perkins Racing Team Steven Richards Holden Commodore VY 13 6 1:34.2039 0:01.3535
16 7 Ford Performance Racing David Besnard Ford Falcon BA 14 12 1:34.2569 0:01.4065
17 51 K-Mart Racing Team Greg Murphy Holden Commodore VY 14 5 1:34.3018 0:01.4514
18 21 OzEmail Racing Team Brad Jones Ford Falcon BA 16 13 1:34.3533 0:01.5029
19 34 Garry Rogers Motorsport Garth Tander Holden Commodore VY 13 11 1:34.5140 0:01.6636
20 20 Orrcon Racing Jason Bargwanna Ford Falcon BA 12 10 1:34.6229 0:01.7725
21 31 Super Cheap Auto Racing Steve Ellery Ford Falcon BA 16 13 1:34.6499 0:01.7995
22 44 World Industries/Alphawest Simon Wills Holden Commodore VY 12 7 1:34.6551 0:01.8047
23 2 Holden Racing Team Todd Kelly Holden Commodore VY 11 5 1:34.8905 0:02.0401
24 5 Ford Performance Racing Glenn Seton Ford Falcon BA 16 13 1:34.9615 0:02.1111
25 6 Ford Performance Racing Craig Lowndes Ford Falcon BA 12 4 1:35.0296 0:02.1792
26 45 World Industries/Alphawest Jason Richards Holden Commodore VY 16 2 1:35.0540 0:02.2036
27 23 INXS Team Ford Mark Noske Ford Falcon AU 15 4 1:35.1318 0:02.2814
28 10 Orrcon Racing Mark Larkham Ford Falcon AU 8 6 1:35.2427 0:02.3923
29 021 Team Kiwi Racing Craig Baird Holden Commodore VX 9 7 1:35.5935 0:02.7431
30 75 Toll Racing Anthony Tratt Ford Falcon BA 8 6 1:36.2049 0:03.3545
31 24 Romano Racing David Krause Holden Commodore VY 13 11 1:36.3087 0:03.4583
32 99 Thexton Motor Racing David Thexton Ford Falcon AU 15 14 1:38.1102 0:05.2598
DNS 50 Team Brock Jason Bright Holden Commodore VX
 
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