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2005 V8 SUPERCAR: CHINA

2005 V8 SUPERCAR CHAMPIONSHIP

Round 5 of 13: June 10-12 Shanghai China

CIRCUIT

• Shanghai International Circuit
• also used for F1 and MotoGP

RACE SCHEDULE:

• TOP 10 SHOOT-OUT: Sat 10.45-11.30
• RACE 1: Sat 3.20-4.10 pm (100 km)
• RACE 2: Sun 10.20-11.20 am (140 km)
• RACE 3: Sun 1.30-2.40 pm (140 km)

RACE RESULT:

S RICHARDS, 2ND OVERALL: “It has been a great weekend for us, we came here to at least stand on the podium… we always want to win, but a podium was the best result we could hope for with the car we had today. While we always want a round win, I knew where we were in the Championship in the final race so I only wanted to make sure that I stayed up the front for the podium win.”

RACE 2, 140KM, SUN JUNE 12, 2005

• 1. Todd Kelly , Holden, 30 laps
  2. Steven Richards , Holden
  3. Paul Radisich , Holden
  4. Jamie Whincup , Holden
  5. Max Wilson , Holden
  6. Jason Bright , Ford
  7. Greg Murphy , Holden
  8. Greg Ritter , Ford
  9. Cameron McConville , Holden
  10. Bradley Jones , Ford

RACE 2, 140KM, SUN JUNE 12, 2005

• 1. Mark Skaife , Holden, 30 laps
  2. Steven Richards , Holden
  3. Todd Kelly , Holden
  4. Marcos Ambrose , Ford
  5. Paul Radisich , Holden
  6. Russell Ingall , Ford
  7. Glenn Seton , Ford
  8. Jamie Whincup , Holden
  9. Cameron McConville , Holden
  10. Greg Ritter , Ford

RACE 1, 100KM, SAT JUNE 11, 2005

• 1 TODD KELLY, 22 LAPS
  “It’s been a little while coming, we’ve had a bit of a rough trot at the start of this season and it is good to get it all going again ... It is certainly very special, but the most important thing is to come away with the first round win in China"
• 2 STEVEN RICHARDS
• 3 MARK SKAIFE
• 4 LOWNDES
• 5 AMBROSE
• 6 RADISICH
• 7 BRIGHT
• 8 J RICHARDS
• 9 WHINCUP
• 10 MURPHY

QUALIFYING:

TOP 10 SHOOT-OUT, JUNE 11, 2005

• 1 MARK SKAIFE
• 2 STEVEN RICHARDS +0.18
• 3 GREG MURPHY +0.21
• 4 RADISICH +0.31
• 5 LOWNDES +0.33
• 6 T KELLY
• 7 AMBROSE
• 8 BRIGHT
• 9 JOHNSON
• 10 WHINCUP

RACE PREVIEW:

• AMBROSE: "I have been pretty excited about the China round since it was first announced. A lot of people have worked enormously hard to make this happen and hopefully it will be a great success for everyone involved.
• "There is a lot at stake for a lot of people across a whole range of areas -- including myself. China could turn out to be the real Wildcard of this championship. I desperately want to win my third consecutive championship this season and I don't think I will be able to do that without a bag of points from next weekend. The track looks very interesting and is no doubt going to be fast. The event will be an adventure for everyone at Pirtek Racing, but it is going to be important to keep our eye on the ball with so many distractions."
• "I think the reaction to Formula 1 and the 500cc bikes by the Chinese fans was pretty special. I think the local fans will really enjoy the different sights and sounds that are offered by V8 Supercars. I think we will have a lot more fans once we have visited China for our first race.
• SKAIFE: "This is a brilliant opportunity for this category to showcase itself on an international stage. I've been to the circuit and the facilities are simply unbelievable; it's definitely a pointer to the direction we want our series to follow. We inspected the track and the mix of high-speed straights followed by extremely tight corners is going to create great racing.We are going to find out which teams are the most technically skilled at setting up a racing car, because none of us has driven the track before and it will certainly be a challenge for drivers and engineers to get their heads around."
• LOWNDES: "I can't wait to see the response we get from the Chinese when we roll out the car with 888 on it. I really hope we can uphold their traditions as the number 8 is almost sacred in Asia. It is always interesting when you go to a circuit that no one in the field has been to before as it comes down to driver input instead of past results."
• INGALL: "Over the years I have been in this situation a few times where the series I am participating in has gone to a totally new venue. There are just so many variables involved and whoever deals with them best will have the best chance to winning the weekend. The logistics of putting this first race together have been incredible. The language barrier, different food and traffic conditions are three of the main factors we are going to have to deal with on a daily basis -- and it won't be easy. If there is one thing Caltex Racing is good at, it is being prepared and I think that's why we head to China with a very good chance."
• "A lot of companies are taking corporate groups, many fans have joined organised tours while other have made their own arrangements. I have not been to the circuit yet, but from the images I have seen and the stories I have been told, it is mind blowing. They tell me that we won't be running the full F1 circuit, but our course will still be around 4km long and the average speeds are going to be right up there. To win the first ever V8 Supercar race in China would be a pretty cool thing to achieve. I will be giving it a bloody good try."
• MURPHY: "This country has so far been unbelievable. It is such a contrast to what we have in New Zealand and Australia and I would never have imagined how different the Chinese lifestyle and culture would be until we arrived here. We have already received an overwhelming response from local media as well as the community and I can guarantee I'm not the only driver who can't wait to get out onto the Shanghai International Circuit on Friday."
• BRIGHT: "Having raced extensively overseas in the past, I have always wanted to expand upon my international racing career, that is, to compete in other countries and circuits, as you always learn so much from this. I see our visit to China next week as no exception, as it will broaden all of our perspectives as racing drivers and I am sure that our new Chinese fans are going to love what they see. You realise that we have developed something very special with V8 Supercars when we have been asked to compete at such an impressive venue, in such a far away land. Get ready China - we plan to put on an unforgettable show."
• RITTER: "If someone told me ten years ago that I would be racing in Shanghai in a V8 Supercar, I would have told them that they were dreaming. A race like this transforms us into truly international racers and this is a great thing. The Shanghai International Circuit is a truly world class venue and I am gearing up for a truly incredible experience. A strong result at this race would not only be historic, it would be a privilege."

V8 SUPERCAR Leigh Diffey's Preview:

• It's the most significant weekend in the history of V8 Supercars. Many said it couldn't happen, shouldn't happen and won't happen. Guess what? It is happening! The V8 family will showcase everything it has to offer, only this time it's to a massive market. A new market that doesn't know any of the drivers, cars or stars - it will be a huge test. It's difficult to predict who will succeed, but you would be wise to back the ones who have dealt with a multitude of tracks around the world. Craig Lowndes, Marcos Ambrose, Mark Skaife, Russell
  Ingall, Steven Richards and Greg Murphy are all at the top of the list. The track and facility are world class and the V8 Supercars follow in the wheeltracks of the F1 and MotoGP. The Chinese may have already seen the other categories but they haven't seen anything yet - the Superstars in Supercars will be special! It will be a weekend to savour!