News
Two Fours equals Frosty

Two Fours equals Frosty

1 March 2014

Ford Pepsi Max Crew has endured an indifferent start to the new season with a pair of hard-fought fourth places for Mark Winterbottom the best results for the team in the opening two races of the Clipsal 500.

Race 1

Frosty started third and despite a clean start was bombed around the outside early in the opening lap by Shane van Gisbergen which dropped him to fourth. From there he ran a quiet and issue-free race to finish in the same position. Debutant Chaz Mostert suffered a split power steering hose on the formation lap and the resultant leaking fluid forced him into the wall partway through lap one, bringing a premature end to his race.

Race 2

Frosty claimed another fourth place after an improved performance despite suffering from a broken rollbar. He felt the car was nervous throughout and was fortunate to finish ahead of a fast-closing Fabian Coulthard and Chaz. Chaz started 10th and move forward thanks to clean driving and a very quick pit stop to claim sixth at race end.

Mark Winterbottom - #5 Pepsi Max FPR Ford:

It is not too bad to finish fourth in both races. We had a trouble-free run really although a broken anti-rollbar during that race caused me a few dramas. Fourth was probably where we should've been in both races so we will tune the car overnight and hopefully be stronger tomorrow. We need to qualify well as a high starting position is key to tomorrows longer race. I am not happy with the car but the points haul still means it was a pretty good day.

Chaz Mostert - #6 Pepsi Max FPR Ford:

Race one was a bit disappointing as we should've been in the top 10 with the pace we had. After the repairs we used the race as a practice session to work on setting for Race 2. We had a good start and gained ground and then the car felt a lot better after we changed tyres at the stop. The balance was good, we were able to reel in Frosty easily enough and sixth is encouraging after having a shocking first race.

Tim Edwards Team Principal:

It was a mixed day but we came away with more points than on the same day last year so we can take something out of today. Mark drove as hard as he could and two fourth places give him the clean start he had hoped for and Chaz fought back well in the second race and drove maturely.

CLIPSAL 500 RESULTS

RACE 1

1) Jamie Whincup Triple Eight
2) Craig Lowndes Triple Eight
3) Shane van Gisbergen Tekno
4) Mark Winterbottom Ford Pepsi Max Crew
5) Rick Kelly Kelly Racing
DNF) Chaz Mostert Ford Pepsi Max Crew

RACE 2

1) Craig Lowndes Triple Eight
2) Scott McLaughlin GRM
3) Jamie Whincup Triple Eight
4) Mark Winterbottom Ford Pepsi Max Crew
5) Fabian Coulthard Brad Jones Racing
6) Chaz Mostert Ford Pepsi Max Crew

DRIVER CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS

1) Craig Lowndes Triple Eight: 144 points
2) Jamie Whincup Triple Eight: 139
3) Mark Winterbottom Ford Pepsi Max Crew: 120
19) Chaz Mostert Ford Pepsi Max Crew: 51