Trouble follows FPR to NZ

Steve Richards smashed his qualifying demons today, starting the V8 Supercar Championship Series' race four from third in front of his home crowd.

That was the highlight of a disappointing day's racing for Ford Performance Racing, however, with Richo finishing 12^th in the Castrol FPR Falcon and Mark Winterbottom not making it round the first lap.

Richo, who was born in New Zealand, was running comfortably in second before his first pit stop. Just five laps before that, however, he hit a tyre bundle and bent the steering. He struggled with handling for the rest of the 59-lap race and finished 12^th.

"We made a massive improvement to the car for qualifying, which made the car work much better for me but I want to finish with wins and podiums," said Richo.

"Today we were almost capable of doing that but coming off such a hard day yesterday it was going to be difficult. I definitely think we're opening up a window with the car and at the next few rounds I'll have a lot more confidence with it."

Mark Winterbottom's Orrcon Steel FPR Falcon was a jet off the line but the forward momentum put him in direct conflict with Craig Lowndes and Hamilton Street Track's unforgiving walls. The resulting damage could not be repaired trackside.

"I got a good start and probably put myself in a bad position," said Frosty. "Craig Lowndes got on the gas and slid the rear, which bumped my front tyre and bent my steering. I knocked the wall because the car went hard left after the steering bent. It's hard to find positions going forward from mid-pack but it was probably a silly move on my behalf.

FPR will be back on track in two weeks at its home track, Winton.

Hamilton 400 HAMILTON STREETCIRCUIT QUALIFYING
01. Steven Johnson, DJR, 1:24.1606
02. James Courtney, DJR, +0.0771
03. Steve Richards, Castrol FPR Falcon, +0.0824
04. Jamie Whincup, 888, +0.1326
05. Michael Caruso, GRM, +0.1356
06. Lee Holdsworth, GRM, +0.1608
07. Shane Van Gisbergen, SBR, +0.1962
08. Craig Lowndes, 888, +0.2354
09. Fabian Coulthard, PCR, +0.2565
10. Mark Winterbottom, Orrcon Steel FPR Falcon,+0.2841

Hamilton 400 HAMILTON STREET CIRCUIT RACE TWO

01. Jamie Whincup, 888
02. James Courtney, DJR
03. Steven Johnson, DJR
04. Lee Holdsworth, GRM
05. Fabian Coulthard, PCR
06. Michael Caruso, GRM
12. Steve Richards, Castrol FPR Falcon
DNF Mark Winterbottom, Orrcon Steel FPR Falcon