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FPR proclaims focus on 500

21 August 2011

Frosty struggles with grip on soft tyres

 

Ford Performance Racing (FPR) has turned its attention to the upcoming endurance races following a disappointing end to racing at the Ipswich 300 at Queensland Raceway, the eighth event of the 2011 V8 Supercar season.

FPR trio Mark Winterbottom, Will Davison and Paul Dumbrell had a race to forget after a disappointing qualifying session left them starting further back than hoped.
Davison made the best of the 20-minute session and started 10th, though would have started higher had he not locked a brake at the final turn on his best lap.

Winterbottom and Dumbrell could not muster the same speed on a drying track and lined up 20th and 25th respectively.

All three started well, however Davison ran wide and dropped a few places on the opening lap before being shuffled down the field a few laps later, dropping to 15th.

Winterbottom had a relatively quiet race in the midfield and slick pit work helped keep him at the front of a large pack of cars, though he was unable to push forward of where he qualified and finished the race 19th.

Dumbrell ran just behind Winterbottom outside the top 20 for much of the race and for a while enjoyed a close battle with Todd Kelly.

On one lap he was passed, before immediately repassing his opponent, though he eventually relinquished his spot and would finish the race 24th – one place ahead of where he started.

Davison, delayed by his early lost ground, was further hampered at his pit stop due to a sticky wheel nut and though he held station after his stop, he could not recover the lost ground and went on to finish 21st.

The team is now firmly fixed on returning to the front of the field at Phillip Island and Bathurst.

DRIVERS’ VIEW
Mark Winterbottom – #5 Orrcon Steel FPR Falcon
Qualifying: 20th – 1m10.29s

Race 18:  19th – Fastest lap: 1m11.07s

Championship position: 5th – 1273 points

“It was frustrating out there today and of course I am disappointed with the results, but we live and learn and while there is obviously work still to be done I have full faith we will get there. It was one of those weekends where nothing went our way, so after our debrief we’ll look to the endurance races where we should be strong. Richo (co-driver Steve Richards) and I work really well together and we will have a new chassis for Phillip Island so things should be on the up.”
Will Davison – #6 Trading Post FPR Falcon
Qualifying: 10th – 1m10.03s
Race 18: 21st – Fastest lap: 1m10.92

Championship position: 7th – 1260 points

“Today was a really tough day for all the team. We started well, though I ran wide and that cost me a few spots. Things then went sour at my first stop as we had a sticky wheel nut which delayed us and dropped me further back. The issue today is similar to what we’ve faced at other soft tyre races so we still have work to do, but we now turn our intentions to the enduros where I know we will be back where we should be. I can’t wait for Phillip Island.”

Paul Dumbrell – #55 The Bottle-O FPR Falcon
Qualifying: 25th – 1m10.40s

Race 18: 24th – Fastest lap: 1m11.08s

Championship position: 18th – 810 points
“This wasn’t really the race we had planned out so we are all a little flat after that. There was a great battle with Todd (Kelly) there for a while and we had slick pit stops by the team, but the pace just wasn’t there. We have a test day coming so that will be a good chance to further work on our soft tyre pace, though the endurance races can’t come soon enough as I know we will show our true pace there.”
Tim Edwards – FPR Team Principal
“Today was a disappointing day for the whole team and we don’t want to make any excuses for what was clearly a performance below the level expected of our team. The team has worked very hard to improve our soft tyre pace, though we clearly still have work to do to rectify the issue. Our car is quick on the hard tyre and we have been very strong recently, but we will do everything in our power to ensure we are consistently quick no matter what tyre we race on. The endurance races are coming up and we want to pay back our loyal fans with the results they deserve. Rest assured we will leave no stone unturned.”

2011 V8 SUPERCAR CHAMPIONSHIP

IPSWICH

RACE 18 – RESULTS:

1) Craig Lowndes – Triple Eight

2) Tim Slade – Stone Brothers Racing

3) Shane van Gisbergen – Stone Brothers Racing

4) James Moffat – Dick Johnson Racing

5) David Reynolds – Kelly Racing

19) Mark Winterbottom – Ford Performance Racing

21) Will Davison – Ford Performance Racing

24) Paul Dumbrell – Ford Performance Racing

2011 V8 SUPERCAR CHAMPIONSHIP

DRIVER POINTS AFTER RACE 18

1) Jamie Whincup – Triple Eight: 1895  points

2) Craig Lowndes – Triple Eight: 1797

3) Shane van Gisbergen – Stone Brothers Racing: 1502

4) Rick Kelly – Kelly Racing: 1418

5) Steve Johnson – Dick Johnson Racing: 1345

7) Mark Winterbottom – Ford Performance Racing: 1321

8 Will Davison – Ford Performance Racing: 1302

19) Paul Dumbrell – Ford Performance Racing: 843

 

2011 V8 SUPERCAR CHAMPIONSHIP

TEAM POINTS AFTER RACE 18

1) Triple Eight:  3717 points

2) Stone Brothers Racing: 2807

3) Ford Performance Racing: 2648

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