Winterbottom wins in Tasmania to race back in to championship contention

14 November 2010

Frosty 1st and PD 2nd

Mark Winterbottom has raced back as a serious championship contender with victory in the final race of the Falken Tasmania Challenge at Symmons Plains near Launceston today.

During qualifying earlier in the day Winterbottom secured his fifth pole position of the year in wet conditions before leading the field on a wet track during the early segment of the 84-lap race aboard the #5 Orrcon Steel FPR Falcon.

As the track dried throughout the race, Winterbottom responded to a number of challenges from Jason Bright before crossing the line ahead of his Ford Performance Racing stable-mate Paul Dumbrell.

Winterbottom’s Orrcon Steel-backed team-mate Steve Richards also enjoyed another solid run in today’s race before crossing the line in ninth spot.

With two events remaining in the 2010 V8 Supercar Championship Series, Winterbottom has leapt back into third place in the points standings on 2462 points – only 200 in arrears of championship leader James Courtney (2662). Jamie Whincup sits between the pair in second place on 2612 points.

There will be little time for rest between events for the Orrcon Steel-backed pair with the Norton 360 being contested at the Sandown International Raceway in Melbourne next weekend.

QUOTES FROM THE DRIVERS

Mark Winterbottom – #5 Orrcon Steel FPR Falcon

Mark Winterbottom

Mark Winterbottom aboard the #5 Orrcon Steel FPR Falcon at Symmons Plains Raceway

“That was a very satisfying and hard fought win today,” said Winterbottom.

“The car was very good in the wet, so I blazed early. However, when it dried I had a bit of understeer and it turned into a hard fought win. Both Jason Bright and then Paul Dumbrell really did push me all the way today, plus we went to the dry tyres maybe a lap or two early because of the safety car – then the drizzle was still about and a HRT car dumped oil so we had plenty going on.

“Although the car had a lot of understeer going into the hairpin especially – it actually gave me good exit speed and that was important in holding the others off down the long straight.

“In terms of the championship there are four races remaining, we have a good car and with a 200 point difference and 600 points up for grabs – we will not give up on the fight.

“Sandown is only five days away and I believe we will go well there. We want to put the pressure on the likes of Courtney and Whincup and have them think about us as challengers.”

Steve Richards – Orrcon Steel-backed #6 Dunlop Super Dealer FPR Falcon
“There was a bit of battling going on throughout today’s race with the conditions making life interesting out there,” said Richards.

“The car was wounded early in the race and was a bit of a handful until we could put some brake blanks in the front at the first stop.

“The track dried pretty quickly and we needed to make that brake adjustment which made the second half of the race a whole lot better.

“Certainly the performance of the team is on an up and to have all cars on the pace has us looking forward to heading to Sandown next weekend.”

Event 12 of the 2010 V8 Supercar Championship Series
Falken Tasmania Challenge
Symmons Plains, TAS

V8 Supercar Championship Series Points Standings
After Race 22 of 26

1. James Courtney – 2662
2. Jamie Whincup – 2612
3. Mark Winterbottom – 2462
4. Craig Lowndes – 2405
5. Garth Tander – 2328
6. Shane Van Gisbergen – 2178
7. Rick Kelly – 1936
8. Lee Holdsworth – 1919
9. Paul Dumbrell – 1848
10. Michael Caruso – 1835
17. Steve Richards – 1291

RESULTS: Race Two (84 laps)
1. #5 Mark Winterbottom
2. #55 Paul Dumbrell
3. #14 Jason Bright
4. #39 Russell Ingall
5. #51 Greg Murphy
6. #2 Garth Tander
7. #7 Todd Kelly
8. #24 Fabian Coulthard
9. #6 Steve Richards
10 #33 Lee Holdsworth

RESULTS: Qualifying
1. #5 Mark Winterbottom 0:59.4007
2. #14 Jason Bright 0:59.4136
3. #888 Craig Lowndes 0:59.6919
4. #8 Jason Richards 0:59.7404
5. #39 Russell Ingall 0:59.7786
6. #15 Rick Kelly 0:59.7898
7. #7 Todd Kelly 0:59.8859
8. #22 Will Davison 0:59.9252
9. #11 Jason Bargwanna 0:59.9417
10. #1 Jamie Whincup 0:59.9673
18. #6 Steve Richards 1:00.2611

RESULTS: Top Ten Shootout
1. #2 Garth Tander 0:51.9836
2. #888 Craig Lowndes 0:52.0185
3. #5 Mark Winterbottom 0:52.1237
4. #51 Greg Murphy 0:52.1874
5. #33 Lee Holdsworth 0:52.2526
6. #6 Steve Richards 0:52.2923
7. #34 Michael Caruso 0:52.2994
8. #14 Jason Bright 0:52.3448
9. #39 Russell Ingall 0:52.4905
10. #55 Paul Dumbrell 0:52.7493

RESULTS: Qualifying
1. #888 Craig Lowndes 0:51.8501
2. #5 Mark Winterbottom 0:51.8531
3. #2 Garth Tander 0:51.9025
4. #33 Lee Holdsworth 0:51.9179
5. #55 Paul Dumbrell 0:51.9319
6. #14 Jason Bright 0:51.9541
7. #6 Steve Richards 0:52.0259
8. #39 Russell Ingall 0:52.0508
9. #34 Michael Caruso 0:52.0610
10. #51 Greg Murphy 0:52.0728

AUS TELEVISION SCHEDULE
Times subject to amendment – please check local guides

SPEED TV (Foxtel 505) and SPEED TV HD (Foxtel 206)
Sunday 14 November 2010
9:30pm – 11:00pm: (Series Race 22 Highlights)

Monday 15 November 2010
4:00pm – 5:00pm: (Series Race 21 Highlights)
8:00pm – 9:00pm: (Series Race 21 Highlights)
9:00pm – 10:30pm: (Series Race 22 Highlights)

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