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FPR Keen to Kick Goals

25 Jul 2013
Ford Performance Racing is looking to 'kick' things up another notch at the Coates Hire Ipswich 360 after a successful month of competition.
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Ford Performance Racing is looking to ‘kick’ things up another notch this weekend at the Coates Hire Ipswich 360 after a successful month of competition where the team has claimed two race wins, five podiums and three pole positions.

Mark Winterbottom has moved into overall contention and now sits fourth in the Championship standings, a mere 39 points behind teammate Will Davison.

The Ford Pepsi Max Crew cars of Winterbottom and Davison will sport a revised livery for Ipswich – both the #5 and #6 factory Fords will run special Pepsi Max Kick doors for the next three events promoting the company’s new Pepsi Max Kick product.  

 

Winterbottom feels the Car of the Future Ford Falcon will perform well at Queensland Raceway.

“The new car should suit Ipswich better than the old one did and with soft tyres and a much better braking package I would expect to go quicker than last year,” he said.

“The different format of racing will change strategy, but the biggest difference will be the use of the soft compound tyre. Tyre life will be critical to succeeding but at this stage it is the big unknown.” 

Winterbottom has recorded two wins at the circuit, both in 2008.

But teammate Davison will not look back at the record books when analysing his chances this weekend, despite having come home first in 2009 when he drove with Holden Racing Team.

“I’m just blocking any previous Ipswich race given all the changes this year,” Davison – who is 215 Championship points off leader Jamie Whincup – said. 

“The new (60/60) format should be interesting and comes at a key time of the year as we aren’t that far off the enduros.

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“We head in very confident after a great test day which we hope will bring some further gains and a strong run in Townsville. It is a very tricky circuit despite looking simple on paper. Car balance is important – if it is good you can manage your tyres, if it is not you will struggle so that is the key factor.”

The team held its second test of recent times last week and in near-perfect conditions completed an intensive program using all four cars and drivers, plus the team’s four Endurance Cup co-drivers.

The co-driver quartet will also be in action this Friday with two extended 75-minute practice sessions scheduled where all co-drivers are eligible to log laps ahead of the first endurance race in mid-September at the Sandown 500.

Friday is important for Alex Davison in the JELD-WEN Falcon for other reasons.

“We have continued our diligent preparation and the aim is to have a nice methodical run through practice,” Alex said.

“If we can be productive on Friday it sets you up for a good weekend so that is our focus… We found a bit of pace in Townsville, especially in qualifying, and this weekend our focus remains on trying to keep that qualifying form. If we can qualify at the very least in the top 10 it makes the rest of the weekend a lot easier.”

David Reynolds agreed with teammate Winterbottom, having noted soft tyres as a key element of the weekend’s event.

“Queensland Raceway has always been good to me and the big factor this year is that everyone is running soft tyres so we will all have to do a good job ensuring they last,” Reynolds said.

“Hopefully we can continue our recent run form at Ipswich. Last time out in Townsville we were up for a very good result until we had an engine issue.”

The Coates Hire Ipswich 360 kicks off at Queensland Raceway tomorrow – tickets are available through Ticketek.

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FPR Keen to Kick Goals | Supercars