VICTORY FOR FPR BUT RICHO SUFFERS HEAVY SHUNT
March 9, 2008 Mark Winterbottom took his first race victory of the season today at Eastern Creek an incredible fight-back after he qualified 15th in yesterdays V8 Supercar Championship qualifying at the Sydney circuit.
Frosty snatched the lead off the grid and led from start to finish, launching him up to fourth in the championship standings after he finished second overall in the weekend’s racing.
His team-mate, Steven Richards, was set to pull off a similarly astounding feat, running fifth in the closing stages of today’s last race despite starting race two from 27th on the grid. Disaster struck on lap 24, however, when his front left tyre expired. He could only watch on as the tyre barrier approached and the collision, estimated to be at 160kph, has left the #6 Castrol FPR Falcon a right-off.
The team is now assessing its options before next weekend’s Australian GP round, in which the V8s are supporting.
Mark Winterbottom
#5 Orrcon Ford Credit FPR Falcon
“Yesterday, after qualifying, we almost booked an early flight home for today because we didn’t think we’d be here! To fight back to win the way we did is sometimes better than a win!
“We did a lot of work and got the cars quicker and to finish 10th, second and first is quite an achievement and we did it with genuine speed today.”
Steven Richards
#6 Castrol FPR Falcon
“About three corners before on the previous lap, at about Turn Seven, I noticed the car had a bit of a wobble and under-steer; I thought I had a flat tyre. It seemed to be OK on the straight so I didn’t come in.
“Whatever happened let go the next lap on Turn Three. I went around the corner and the front fell over a bit and then it took its own direction. I don’t know how to measure one accident against another but it was pretty rough; they all are when you hit the wall though. I don’t have too many of them fortunately but this time there’s terrible damage to the car; that’s going to take a while to get fixed.”
Tim Edwards
FPR Team Principal
“I’m absolutely elated with the win but it goes to show you the highs and lows of a weekend. The other car was on for a fantastic result today; a fifth place finish after starting race two from 27th on the grid. Obviously the great news is that Steve was OK but we’ve left ourselves with a lot of work to do. The car will be a total right-off; probably $400,000.
“Overall though, we had a fantastic result today; full credit to the team, drivers and crew, after they picked themselves up after yesterday’s disappointment.”
2008 V8 Supercar Championship Series - Round 2, Race 3
EASTERN CREEK INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY
1. Mark Winterbottom, Orrcon Ford Credit FPR Falcon
2. Rick Kelly, Holden Commodore VE
3. Garth Tander, Holden Commodore VE
4. Jamie Whincup, Ford Falcon BF
5. Mark Skaife, Holden Commodore VE
6. Will Davison, Ford Falcon BF
7. Russell Ingall, Holden Commodore VE
8. Craig Lowndes, Ford Falcon BF
DNF Steven Richards, Castrol Ford Falcon
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