Story: We've exceeded all our expectations

Shell V-Power Racing managing director Ryan Story says the Ford squad’s championship leading start to the season has been a surprise to the team.

Story worked with the Ford squad during its final lean years at Dick Johnson Racing and through the American revolution after majority stakeholder Roger Penske took over from 2015.

While a tough maiden season as a sole car in 2015 allowed the Queensland outfit to rebuild its business off track, the dramatic leap in form from 2016 to 2017 has caught many by surprise.

The acquisition of engineer Ludo Lacroix and driver Scott McLaughlin have been high profile captures this season, but Story says the tools for success were in place before their arrivals.

“I think we started the year with a fairly healthy objective to win races,” Story told Supercars.com.

“It was certainly not our expectation to be quite as competitive as we have been. 

“It’s a testament to what comes from strong technical leadership and direction as well as having a fairly eager, capable and competent workforce wanting to get the job done.

“It’s exceeded all of our expectations. We’re in a very fortunate position of having two very good race drivers who enjoy working together and understand what teams are all about. 

“That’s something that can never be discounted too in terms of driving the whole place forward and having everyone raise the bar and deliver their best.”

Ryan Story

Story was also quick to praise Lacroix’s influence on a workforce that had been schooled in the Team Penske ethos.

“There’s two facets to what he brings; it’s both a leadership mentality and a technical approach that can only be honed from years of experience in the front line, not just in Australia but also overseas,” he said.

“He’s been surprised with how competitive we’ve been able to be. 

“Part of that is because we had quite a few pieces of the puzzle already in place here. 

“We had a good strong raft of people and we’ve got a fantastic driver line-up this year and guys who want to work together and take the whole thing forward.”

Story added the group, which has at times been bolstered by members from the US arms of Team Penske, developed its work ethic and approach over its initial two season in the category.

“That sense of comradery does reverberate through the team, without a doubt,” he said.

“When you get that and a group of people willing to follow the lead and march in the same direction, the results sometimes tend to follow. 

“If we didn’t have the right people in place and structure, some of the changes we’ve brought in this year would not have been enough on their own to see us flick on the light switch. 

“It’s been a culmination of all those things together.”