Challenging Weekend For FPR

Frosty finishes 7th and 14th in Hamilton Races

Winterbottom remains second in points, Richards the hard charger in race two

Mark Winterbottom and Steve Richards have encountered a challenging time at the ITM400, event four of the 2010 V8 Supercar Championship Series, in Hamilton, New Zealand across the weekend.

Winterbottom qualified tenth fastest for both of the 59-lap encounters aboard the #5 Orrcon Steel FPR Falcon before recording a seventh placing in yesterday’s race one ahead of a 14th place today.

The Orrcon Steel-backed driver struggled to find the balance in the set up of his car throughout the weekend, an issue that was then magnified by a slow pit stop in race two. As a result he finished as the eighth highest point scorer for the weekend.

Despite not achieving the desired results, Winterbottom still sits second in the championship standings, 198 off championship leader, and today’s eventual race winner, Jamie Whincup.

Like his Orrcon Steel-backed team-mate, Richards also had a difficult weekend on a circuit where he had previously finished on the podium.

The major highlight for Richards this weekend was a hard charging recovery from the rear of the 29-car field after his Orrcon Steel-backed #6 Dunlop Super Dealer FPR Falcon was spun on the opening lap in today’s race. The dual Bathurst Champion finished 15th in today’s race, a major improvement on yesterday’s 24th place finish when his performance was hampered by a steering issue.

The next event on the V8 Supercars schedule is the Ipswich 300 on April 30 – May 2.

QUOTES FROM THE DRIVERS

Mark Winterbottom – #5 Orrcon Steel FPR Falcon
"When you look at everything at the end of the weekend I’m still second in the points standings but it is disappointing to come here where we’ve had some good runs before and finish up where we did,” said Winterbottom.

“We tried a few things in today’s race and were in a reasonable position during the early part but then I got slowed by Steve Johnson coming into the pits under the safety car which dropped me from eighth to about 20th.

“After that I got stuck behind another car and the brakes overheated and I then had a bit of a fuel pressure issue in my second pit stop which cost me a few seconds.

“I think the Orrcon Steel FPR Falcon was probably good enough for sixth in today’s race but it wasn’t to be and we’ll go back to work harder and be back on the pace at Queensland Raceway.

“We’ve got some really good people here at FPR and when you’ve got good people around you you’re not off the pace for long.”

Steve Richards – Orrcon Steel-backed #6 Dunlop Super Dealer FPR Falcon
“Today was a bit of an up and down day, I got a good start then got turned around by Alex Davison in turn one which put me to the back of the field,” said Richards.

“I then had to come from behind, which was made worse with some dramas under the safety car, but the car was strong and I was able to make up some good ground to finish up with a respectable finish.

“We’ve always been strong in the races but at the moment we just can’t seem to make a good ‘fist’ of it during qualifying, which really seems to be hurting us.”

ITM400 - Hamilton, New Zealand
Event 4 of the 2010 V8 Supercar Championship Series

V8 Supercar Championship Series Points Standings
After Race 8 of 26
1. Jamie Whincup 1071 points
2. Mark Winterbottom 873
3. James Courtney 858
4. Lee Holdsworth 771
5. Garth Tander 723
6. Shane Van Gisbergen 720
7. Rick Kelly 716
8. Craig Lowndes 711
9. Michael Caruso 702
10. Steven Johnson 668
19. Steve Richards 384

RESULTS: Race Two (Race 8 of 2010 Championship)
1. #1 Jamie Whincup – 59 laps
2. #2 Garth Tander
3. #34 Michael Caruso
4. #33 Lee Holdsworth
5. #17 Steven Johnson
6. #22 Will Davison
7. #15 Rick Kelly
8. #9 Shane Van Gisbergen
9. #7 Todd Kelly
10. #11 Jason Bargwanna
14. #5 Mark Winterbottom
15. #6 Steve Richards

RESULTS: Qualifying
1. #2 Garth Tander 1:23.0349
2. #1 Jamie Whincup 1:23.1043
3. #34 Michael Caruso 1:23.1966
4. #15 Rick Kelly 1:23.2514
5. #888 Craig Lowndes 1:23.3056
6. #18 James Courtney 1:23.3100
7. #17 Steven Johnson 1:23.3937
8. #22 Will Davison 1:23.4094
9. #7 Todd Kelly 1:23.4097
10. #5 Mark Winterbottom 1:23.4398
25. #6 Steve Richards 1:24.2578

RESULTS: Race One (Race 7 of 2010 Championship)
1. #1 Jamie Whincup – 59 laps
2. #2 Garth Tander
3. #18 James Courtney
4. #888 Craig Lowndes
5. #34 Michael Caruso
6. #17 Steven Johnson
7. #5 Mark Winterbottom
8. #15 Rick Kelly
9. #55 Paul Dumbrell
10. #33 Lee Holdsworth
24. #6 Steve Richards

RESULTS: Top 10 Shootout
1. #1 Jamie Whincup 1:23.2690
2. #2 Garth Tander 1:23.4213
3. #34 Michael Caruso 1:23.5445
4. #888 Craig Lowndes 1:23.5799
5. #17 Steven Johnson 1:23.6354
6. #24 Fabian Coulthard 1:23.6586
7. #15 Rick Kelly 1:23.6760
8. #3 Tony D'Alberto 1:23.8081
9. #18 James Courtney 1:23.9163
10. #5 Mark Winterbottom 1:23.9946

RESULTS: Qualifying
1. #2 Garth Tander 1:23.0653
2. #18 James Courtney 1:23.2135
3. #3 Tony D'Alberto 1:23.3940
4. #1 Jamie Whincup 1:23.3946
5. #34 Michael Caruso 1:23.4214
6. #24 Fabian Coulthard 1:23.4416
7. #5 Mark Winterbottom 1:23.4899
8. #15 Rick Kelly 1:23.5070
9. #17 Steven Johnson 1:23.5259
10. #888 Craig Lowndes 1:23.5443
16. #6 Steve Richards 1:23.9119