where to in '04 for winterbottom? - Ford Forums

lemon · 06-23-2003, 22:23

i was flipping through a mag the other day (think it was Australian Motorsport or something, comes out bi-monthly) and i was reading one of the articles about the success Mark Winterbottom was having in SBR's AU in the Konica series (3 wins from 3 rounds). Anyway, they raised an interesting point, where is he going to go next year? He is being hailed as the 'next big thing' in V8's but SBR is already choccas with Ambrose and Ingall. In the article they spoke to the Stone's and they said that they would be crazy to let him go (i think he's contracted to SBR for 3 or 5 yrs) but they also said that they dont have the readies to be 'buying up franchises' to run a third car.

So what do you think's going to happen? Over my dead body is Holden going to poach him. Hopefully, if FPR are serious about running a fourth car, he can get a drive with them, although i would prefer to see Ingall go and have Ambrose and Winterbottom take out the 2004 championship 1-2.

FPRXR-6 · 06-23-2003, 22:45

SBR will definatly run 3 cars in the main series in the near future.

The rumour is that SBR will run Winterbottom in the Konica series again in '04 and then run him in a third BA in '05.

XYFalcon · 06-24-2003, 01:27

There's always that spot at Briggs right now...

Fordy · 06-24-2003, 02:17

SBR could always loan him lol. But i thinkd its better if they put him in Konica again get some races under his belt, use him for the enduros and give him a BA in 05.

lemon · 06-24-2003, 03:43

in my opinion, if he keeps produces konica results like he has, keeping him in Konica is just wasting his time. I'm not denying that Konica is a poor competition, it isnt, i just think that he obviously has the goods to be a V8 SC driver, and he should be brought into the big league ASAP.

As for SBR running a third car. Like i said in my original post, in the article they said that it would only be possible to run a third car if they bought another franchise, and they said they cannot afford to do so.

Tripper · 06-24-2003, 04:10

Is Ingall contracted to ford or SBR if its ford he may go to FPV for the 4th car and Winterbottom would come up and replace him

FPRXR-6 · 06-24-2003, 08:22

I think Ingall is contracted to Ford for 5 years and 2 years with SBR.

kinobi · 06-24-2003, 21:03

FPR have plans to expand, so a spot would be vacant there

josh.c · 06-24-2003, 22:28

why get rid of ingall? your bloody crazy. he is an awesome driver, given some luck he will be challanging for the number spot, who just happens to be his team mate. give winterbottom a little time to mature as a driver. all we need is another rookie out there who can pull a fast lap when the other cars on the track are slower. match him up witha field of ambroses/ingalls/skaifes, whole new story. dont get me wrong, he is the best of the konica's out there but a grade is a whole nother story than b grade.

RATT · 06-24-2003, 22:54

I agree. Why get ride of Ingall?? He is one of Fords best.