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2006 V8 SUPERCAR: PRESS RELEASE

Dual podiums for Team Betta Electrical in V8 Supercar season opener (MAR 25, 2006)

• Team Betta Electrical has finished the opening 250km leg of the Clipsal 500 today in spectacular style with Craig Lowndes winning the grueling race and Jamie Whincup coming home third.
• Whincup and Lowndes were the only Ford drivers to start in the top ten and through a combination of strategic pit stops and consistent pace achieved the dual podium result.
• Lowndes worked his way from seventh on the opening lap to take control of the 78-lap race on lap 32, and maintained his lead through three safety car periods that were largely the result of fatigue due to temperatures soaring into the mid 30's.
• "After a lengthy off season with the cars being totally reviewed it is encouraging and certainly confidence building to race so competitively today," Lowndes said.
• "This is a great result for the team and particularly for Jamie who is fitting in so well.
• "Our starting strategy was to be cautious and take the race as it came for the first few laps and when it became obvious we had strong race pace, we were able to leap frog a few positions in our first pit stop.
• "We were also able to capitalize on the first safety period where we re- fueled and maintained the lead that we had.
• "I will sleep easier tonight knowing that we are on the front row of the grid and I have my team mate right behind me," Lowndes stated.
• Whilst Lowndes has enjoyed podium success at Clipsal before this is Whincup's first ever sprint race podium in his inaugural race for both Team Betta Electrical and Ford.
• "I was so excited to have the opportunity to join Triple Eight and to achieve a podium in my first race is almost surreal," Whincup said.
• "The team have been absolutely fantastic in making me feel welcome and preparing me to race at the most competitive level.
• "I will be going home to do some homework tonight, this category is very tough but I am lucky that I have a top engineer in Ludo Lacroix and a seat in the best team in the championship," Whincup concluded.
• Team boss Roland Dane was delighted with the opening result particularly as all four Triple Eight Race Engineering Principals are in attendance this weekend.
• "We couldn't have asked for a better start to the season," Dane said.
• "Craig obviously enjoys this circuit and his pace and consistency is very encouraging however I am most impressed with the maturity shown by Jamie and the car #88 crew today.
• "I am confident that the two drivers will compliment each other in many races to come but tomorrow is another day and another long race," Dane commented.

One goal for Holden in 2006 V8 Supercar Championship Series (MAR 22, 2006)

• The goal of returning Holden to the status of V8 Supercar champions begins this weekend at the Clipsal 500 in Adelaide and, with minimal disruptions or movements during the off season the General's teams are well placed to mount an assault that will reassume the #1 plate for the `red' side.
• A twoday test session last week at W inton Motor Raceway in Victoria gave the six Holdenbacked teams based in Melbourne their first ontrack hitout for 2006 before heading to Adelaide.
• One of Holden's major strengths is the continuity in its frontline teams, with Holden Racing, Toll HSV Dealer Team and Jack Daniel's Racing all retaining their driving lineups and others making small refinements during the offseason with minimal staff movements or interruptions.
• Bathurst champions Mark Skaife and Todd Kelly return for the factory Holden Racing Team, while Toll adds its backing to the HSV DT Commodores of Garth Tander and Rick Kelly.
• Larry Perkins retains Steven Richards and Paul Dumbrell in his team and pulled off the sponsorship coup of the off season by signing Jack Daniel's to replace Castrol, giving his team perhaps its strongestever assault on the V8 Supercar Series.
• Supercheap Auto Racing has strengthened its lineup with the addition of Cameron McConville to partner fourtime Bathurst champion Greg Murphy, while the emerging Tasman Motorsport has increased funding due to a new sponsorship initiative.
• Bathurst runnerup Jason Richards is joined by former V8 Development Series champion Andrew Jones, while Garry Rogers Motorsport will give reigning Development Series champion Dean Canto a ticket back into the main series in addition to rookie Lee Holdsworth.
• Team Sirromet W ines and Team Kiwi Racing will retain their technical alliance with Paul Morris and Paul Radisich again driving, while Morris will also run another car to be shared between young guns Alan Gurr and Fabian Coulthard. The former will drive this weekend before Kiwi Coulthard drives at Albert Park and Pukekohe.
• Holden Motorsport Manager Simon McNamara said that keeping a strong portfolio of loyal Holden drivers will be the cornerstone of success in 2006.  "While we may have not won the championship for the past three seasons, there's no doubting the strength and depth of our team and driver lineups," he said.
• "In all honesty, a wide range of our teams and drivers have been at the front of the field over the past few seasons, whereas only two teams from the other side stand out well above the rest and one of those only just began to reach those levels last year.
• "HRT and HSV DT have fast cars and experienced drivers, Perkins has a new major backer and a new enthusiasm, Supercheap has a strong technical package and Tasman continues to improve and has become a major player. There's a lot to look forward to in 2006."
• Holden will also be well represented in the Fujitsu V8 Development Series, which is the main support to the Clipsal 500.
• Nathan Pretty and Geoff Emery (Mack/Smiths Trucks Racing), Tony D'Alberto (GMAC Racing), Mark Porter (MSport Racing) and Jack Perkins and Shane Price (Perkins Motorsport) will all drive Commodores in the seven round series.
• Practice begins this Thursday in Adelaide for the Fujitsu Series teams, while the main series drivers will hit the track on Friday.
• HOLDEN MOTORSPORT QUOTEBOOK
• Mark Skaife (#2 Holden Racing Team Commodore VZ) "There were plenty of positives to come out of testing at W inton, although we probably lost half a day to the weather. My car is a new chassis and it's pretty close to spoton. It's basically the same spec of chassis we ran with last year, albeit with a few tricky engineering tweaks which we spent a bit of time testing and walked away feeling pretty confident going into the Clipsal 500."
• Greg Murphy (#51 Supercheap Auto Racing Commodore VZ) "I believe you have to win races to win the championship and Adelaide is definitely one of the races to win. This year is going to be tough, tougher than ever before, but I'm confident we're ready for it. The Supercheap Auto Racing team is a good team, a strong operation with solid support. W e've worked hard over the summer break and we're ready to begin the new season."
• Jason Richards (#3 Tasman Motorsport Commodore VZ) "The year we're going to Adelaide so far in front of where we were last year in all aspects. Our engines are more developed, we've got the same crew of guys who work well together and that gives you the confidence to pick up where we left off at the end of 2005 and start the year with a whole bunch of points in the bag."
• Garth Tander (#16 Toll HSV Dealer Team Commodore VZ) "We were very happy with the new car in testing at W inton, and while you can always make things a little better, we believe we already have a better package than last year. This year, we believe we can do a lot better, and our aim is to keep the car straight and leave Adelaide in the top three in the championship."

WPS READY FOR SEASON OPENER (MAR 22, 2006)

• The new-look WPS Racing outfit will take to the circuit for the first time during the opening round of the 2006 V8 Supercar Championship at the Clipsal 500 in Adelaide later this week.
• Less than two months ago the Gold Coast team announced it had joined forces with long-time V8 Supercar identity Mark Larkham and a group of his key staff to ensure WPS Racing continues its evolution in the V8 Supercar Championship.
• Since the announcement it has been all systems go for the dedicated band of engineers and mechanics combining their resources in an effort to prepare the two WPS Racing Falcons to be driven in this year's championship by Jason Bargwanna and Max Wilson.
• "It has been a huge task to combine the staff, resources and experience of the two teams into one outfit but I'm confident that we will be fully prepared for some very solid results as we build our momentum throughout the year," said team owner Craig Gore.
• Bargwanna, a former Bathurst champion, has fond memories of the Adelaide street circuit finishing on the podium in 2000 and the 34-year- old believes this weekend will be a real test for all teams in the championship.
• "It's going to be very unusual this weekend having Adelaide as our first hit out of the year. Normally we have the opportunity to do at least one test day before heading to the Grand Prix in Melbourne and give the cars a real shakedown in race trim but this year no-one has had this opportunity (with the non-championship Grand Prix event being next weekend), so it's going to be very interesting," said Bargwanna.
• "The guys in the team have been working hard to ensure we'll have a competitive package for the opening round, now the focus is on getting a good result in Adelaide."
• The WPS Racing pair completed their first test day of the year yesterday with a hit out at Queensland Raceway.
• "It was good to be back behind the wheel again and shake out the cobwebs," said Wilson.
• "The test day provided me with an opportunity build a relationship with my new crew and engineers. We continually improved our pace throughout the day to finish up with a package which I think will be quite competitive this weekend."
• Wright Patton Shakespeare Financial Services is the parent sponsor of WPS Racing. It is joined by Orrcon, the steel tube and pipe manufacturer and WOW Sight and Sound as co-sponsors. Fish Liquor, Sikkens, DeWALT, Atkinson Gore Group, Big State Earth moving, Consolidated Construction, Cosworth, PRD Nationwide, Toolworx, Maui Jim, AAT Limousines and Revolution Racegear are associate sponsors of WPS Racing.
• Opening practice for the V8 Supercar Championship will be conducted at 9:35am on Friday March 24 followed by qualifying in the afternoon. The opening 250km (78 laps) race will be contested on Saturday March 25 with the round highlighted by the second 250km leg on Sunday March 26.

FPR PREPARED FOR SEASON OPENING STREET FIGHT IN ADELAIDE (MAR 20, 2006)

• March 20, 2006 - Ford Performance Racing (FPR) is ready for the start of the 13 round, V8 Supercar season that starts on the streets of Adelaide this weekend.
• This is the eighth time that the exciting former Grand Prix street circuit has hosted a V8 Supercar round and the fourth time that the Clipsal 500 has been the season opener. It is without a doubt the most physically and mechanically demanding circuit in the Championship, featuring two 250 kilometre races on Saturday and Sunday.
• CAT FPR Falcon driver Jason Bright arrives in Adelaide on Wednesday direct from finishing second in class and 4th overall at the Sebring 12 Hour race in the United States with Aston Martin Racing. The 33 year old Victorian driver is in prime race fitness ahead of the Adelaide street races. After winning this event in 2001, and appearing on the Clipsal 500 podium on three occasions since, Bright is eager to return to the podium in the car that he spent a major part of last season developing into a front runner.
• According to Bright, "Adelaide always turns it on for the start of our racing season and these races are very hard work behind the wheel. I head to the season opener with the advantage of having completed more pre-season preparation than ever before, with our own successful team test last week and having competed at Sebring with Aston Martin Racing. The team has completed a great deal of development work during the summer and we should be in for a strong showing at the season opener."
• Ford Credit FPR Falcon driver Mark Winterbottom is also no stranger to success in South Australia, winning his first V8 Supercar race on the Adelaide Parklands circuit in 2003. Starting the 2006 Championship with Ford's major V8 Supercar team at this spectacular event can't come soon enough for the 24 year old Melbourne based driver.
• "I have said for a while now that the start of the new season can't come soon enough and after our promising test last week I couldn't think of a better place to make my racing debut with FPR than at the Clipsal 500.", Winterbottom said. "This street circuit has it all and the fans are sure to be in for some close racing judging by what we have seen in pre-season testing. This is the start of what I think will be a very exciting Championship for FPR, given the non-stop development work that has taken place in preparation for it," he added.
• FPR Motorsport Director Tim Edwards believes that the team is more than ready for the challenges ahead. "We are anxious to start the season after an intense summer of detailed preparation. We are also eager to see how we shape up against the competition in Adelaide as we were very strong towards the end of last season."
• Interestingly, this weekend's two Clipsal 500 street races represent the only two-race formatted V8 Supercar event of the season. Action starts in Adelaide with two practice sessions and qualifying on Friday March 24, followed by the two gruelling 78 lap races scheduled to start at 2:00pm on both Saturday and Sunday.

The 'WOW' factor comes to WPS Racing (March 15, 2006)

• WOW Sight & Sound's National Retail Director Con Nicolas today announced the company has agreed to a long-term sponsorship agreement with WPS Racing.
• "We entered the V8 Supercar Series last year as a sponsor of the single car entry of Longhurst Racing, initially as a branding exercise for our rapidly growing WOW Sight & Sound Superstores and found the audience of V8 Supercars is a very good fit with our customer profile".
• "This year we have chosen to join the WPS Racing Team as joint sponsor partners with WPS, Orrcon Steel & Dewalt, and consider this decision will further assist Wow Sight & Sound in moving to a higher level of competition results, branding and promotional opportunities and represents a very exciting step for the company" - said Mr Nicolas.
• 'We applaud team owner Craig Gore, team manager Mark Larkham drivers Max Wilson and Jason Bargwanna, along with all team members for the dedication they have shown with the teams preparation in the lead up to this years V8 Supercar Series, and look forward to some exciting racing indeed".

EVERYTHING IS NEW IN 2006 FOR TONY D’ALBERTO (14 March 2006)

• Tony D’Alberto has every reason to smile in the lead-up to the first round of the 2006 Fujitsu V8 Supercar Series at Adelaide on 24-26 March – A new team car, a new team look, a new team name, and new sponsors will help in his quest for V8 Supercar glory.
• The striking blue, white, and orange colour scheme on the ex-Rick Kelly VZ Holden Commodore represents GMAC Financial Services’ commitment to Tony by lifting their involvement in 2006 and becoming naming-rights sponsor of the team now known as GMAC Racing.
• Tony approaches the 2006 season in peak physical fitness and with upgraded equipment for the best possible shot at the title, however he is under no illusion as to the difficulty of the task ahead.
• “I have been in training since Christmas and can’t wait for the opening round of the season.
• “ The competition is going to be tougher than ever in 2006 with larger fields and some very experienced drivers and teams competing,” he said.
• “We have worked hard over the off-season to make sure we have the best equipment possible, and combined with a year under our belts as a team, we are positioned well to give it a real crack.”
• “The first round at Adelaide is one of the most demanding tracks from the point that it is a concrete canyon and there is no room for mistakes,” he said.
• Tem manager, Al D’Alberto realises the importance of commercial partnerships to the success of GMAC Racing.
• “It is great that GMAC not only continued their support for the team in 2006, but decided to come on board as naming-rights sponsor,
• “We are excited to continue our relationships with continuing sponsors HSV, PPG, Valvoline, Bellmont, D’Alberto Holden, Motorvation Media, and also welcome Holden Insurance and Red Bolt Visual Communication for the first time in 2006.”
• Vermont South Special School will once again be a special focus for the team as we continue our partnership with the ‘motorsport club’, and help them enjoy the sport to its fullest.
• “There is no doubt this is my best opportunity to date and I am looking forward to the challenge that the 2006 Fujitsu V8 Supercar Series will provide,” Tony said.
• For more information or high-res images please contact Matthew Adams at Motorvation Media Services on 0403 305 925 or media@motorvationmedia.com.au

FPR - ALL READY AT FPR WELL AHEAD OF 2006 SEASON OPENER (MAR 12, 2006)

• March 13, 2006 - Ford Performance Racing (FPR) enters the start of the 2006 V8 Supercar Championship Series better prepared than ever before with a total of three FPR BA Falcon V8 Supercars built and ready to hit the track in testing - a full two weeks before the start of the season in Adelaide on March 25 & 26.
• This is the first time that FPR has been in this highly advantageous position, having three exact specification V8 Supercars completed well ahead of the commencement of the V8 Supercar Championship.
• The Prodrive team also starts their detailed test programme today (Monday March 13) at Victoria's Winton Raceway with two exact specification and completely FPR designed V8 Supercars - another first since the establishment of the blue oval V8 Supercar team in 2003.
• "The team has performed magnificently to place us in such a strong position well before the start of the season," FPR Motorsport Director Tim Edwards said.
• "We are heading into a highly competitive new season as well prepared as we can possibly be - certainly the best prepared that this team has ever been before. Everyone's spirits are high as the outstanding progress that has been made during the past 11 months has been due to the dedicated efforts of every member of this team," Tim added.
• The team is also well ahead on the commercial side of its operations for the forthcoming 2006 season, according to FPR Commercial Director Rod Barrett.
• "We head into 2006 with more sponsorship support than in previous years. The reconfiguration of our signage this season allows FPR to seek a co-naming rights sponsor to adorn the doors on Mark's car #5," he said.
• "Our all new merchandise range is selling extremely well even before we start the season. 2006 has all the indications of being a great year for the team and its fans both on and off the track," Rod added. CAT FPR Falcon driver Jason Bright and Ford Credit FPR Falcon pilot Mark Winterbottom have been impressed with what they have seen take place at FPR in preparation for the new season.
• "The team has done an incredible job - given where we have come from with two different cars and no spare car at the start of last season, to having three identical and well researched FPR BA Falcons ready to test a full two weeks ahead of the start of the season. The team has performed beyond all expectations, making me very confident heading into the new season," Jason Bright said.

RUSSELL RELAXED AND READY TO GO (FEB 24, 2006)

• Caltex Racing's Russell Ingall says he is the most relaxed he has ever been on the eve of a V8 Supercar Championship Series.
• The reigning V8 Supercar champion says a "world of pressure" was lifted off his shoulders when he claimed his maiden title last season after being a previous four-time runner-up.
• Ingall, who celebrated his 42nd birthday with a swim with the dolphins at Sea World on the Gold Coast today, has warned his rivals that they should not confuse his "relaxed" state with his determination to win back-to-back titles.
• One of the most experienced campaigners in the field, Ingall has been working solidly on his fitness during the off-season and has spent several days with his engineers and crew working on improvements to his Caltex Falcon for 2006.
• Ingall, who is expecting to have his first test of the year in two weeks time, and the rest of the V8 Supercar circus will fire their first shots in anger at the Clipsal 500 in Adelaide on March 23-26.
• "It was fantastic to finally get the first championship under my belt, but you always want more," said Ingall.
• "I think the feeling I had last year after the final round was one more of relief that I had not finished second again, more than I had just won the title.
• "It has since sunk in what we achieved last year and there is no reason why we cannot do it again."
• The staff list at Stone Brothers Racing which prepares the Caltex Falcon as well as the Caltex-backed Jeld-Wen Falcon of James Courtney, remains virtually unchanged from 2005.
• "One of the biggest assets in motorsport is stability and we have basically had the same guys working on our program at SBR for three or four years," said Ingall.
• "Everyone just sees the driver, but this is probably more of a team sport than cricket or rugby league. The responsibilities of everyone involved are certainly more critical.
• "One thing is for sure -- there is not a hint of complacency at SBR despite the fact that the team has won the last three titles. My guys on the Caltex team got to taste the champagne last year and it's something they want to do again."