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Davo battles to podium

Davo battles to podium

15 September 2013

Frosty 6th at Sandown

Ford Pepsi Max Crew has claimed a podium at the opening event of the Endurance Cup with Will Davison and Steve Owen nursing home their battle-scared Pepsi Max Crew Ford to third after 161 laps at Sandown.

The pole-sitters were in the hunt early before fighting back through the field after they had to queue in the pits under the first safety car.

The pair then overcame rising transmission oil temperatures and a drop in power due to front-end damage to claim a spot on the rostrum.

Team-mates Mark Winterbottom and Steve Richards were a chance for the win and despite a slow getaway for Steve at the start, the pair used their car pace to move back into contention only for a sticking left-front wheel nut to drop them to the back end of the top 10.

Frosty then set about hunting down the pack ahead and picked off cars regularly to finish sixth and claim valuable championship points.

Mark Winterbottom & Steve Richards - #5 Pepsi Max FPR Ford

Sandown 500 race result: 6th

Winterbottom:

Today didnt quite turn out how we hoped. The stall at the start obviously made things tough but then we switched our strategy and got back into the race so credit to the team and Richo for turning things around. We showed in the last stint just how quick we were and I set my fastest lap less than 20 laps from the end so we wouldve been in with a shot if not for that delayed stop. We salvaged points and while it wasnt a disaster we need to work hard between now and Bathurst.

Richards:

We had ups and downs today and I made a meal of the start where I stalled. We recovered well and the car had reasonable pace which allowed us to charge on. We got back into the race through strategy and then the sticky wheel nut ruined our chance which is frustrating. We close the door on today but we still finished sixth and that is better than a DNF or a massive repair job. The stall was my only blot but the rest of the weekend was great for me and I am really pumped for Bathurst.

Will Davison & Steve Owen - #6 Pepsi Max FPR Ford

Sandown 500 race result: 3rd

Davison:

Finishing third is the best we couldve done given we were lucky to make it to the end so today was far from a disaster. Steve fought back well after he was put back in the pack after our first pit stop. We banged the front end up a bit and for some reason that cost us a bit of straight line speed so with such a wounded car I am relieved to be on the podium. We are only trailing second by one point and I love racing at Bathurst so well now turn focus to the big one.

Owen:

I saw the data on the transaxle with 40 laps to go and I honestly thought we werent going to make the end of the race so it is a minor miracle we salvaged the result we did. What we learnt today will be a big help heading to Bathurst, the team have been very welcoming and things have largely gone pretty well so fingers crossed, we should be in with a big shout there as well.

Tim Edwards FPR Team Principal:

Today didnt quite pan out as we wanted but a podium and two cars in the top six is far from a disaster. The two Pepsi Max pairings drove incredibly well in circumstances which were not always ideal and kept the points gaps nice and close. The enduros always throw up a few curve balls but we will get back to work tomorrow and have a thorough build-up to Bathurst where we know we have multiple cars in with a chance of fighting for the win.

SANDOWN 500

RACE 28 RESULTS:

1) Jamie Whincup/Paul Dumbrell Triple Eight

2) Craig Lowndes/Warren Luff Triple Eight

3) Will Davison/Steve Owen Ford Pepsi Max Crew

4) Lee Holdsworth/Craig Baird - Erebus

5) James Courtney/Greg Murphy HRT

6) Mark Winterbottom/Steven Richards Ford Pepsi Max Crew

DRIVER CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS AFTER RACE 28

1) Jamie Whincup Triple Eight: 2147 points

2) Craig Lowndes Triple Eight: 2051

3) Will Davison Ford Pepsi Max Crew: 2050