Ford Performance Racing is aiming to continue its recent run of form at the penultimate round of the season at Phillip Island where Mark Winterbottom and Will Davison will resume their championship challenge.
The pair scored a clean sweep of victories at the circuit last year and know a similar result is needed to close the deficit to the points lead. Winterbottom is the form driver in the series and sits 88 points from the top, while Davison is 121 behind and has enjoyed a consistent run to remain in serious contention.
DRIVERS’ VIEW
Mark Winterbottom
“This is the business end of the year now so everything we do is critical. Phillip Island’s new track surface will make things interesting as although we’ve been there many times we now approach it as being like a new track.
This is an especially important round and it’s the one that might decide the outcome of the championship as you have to still be in contention coming out of this one. The 60/60 Super Sprint format and shorter races have thrown up a lot of variables as we’ve seen whereas Homebush is a more straight forward format. There’s no doubt Phillip Island is a danger round for everyone.”
Will Davison
“it’s certainly crunch time now in the championship and we are going to be giving it everything we’ve got, though with 600 points up for grabs we still need to be smart. We have one goal in mind and we are going to be attacking pretty aggressively.
We have to run through all the normal programs and focus on getting the car dialled into the new track surface and focus on being as competitive as we can. I have to make up ground heading into Homebush to ensure I am still in contention as damage can be done there in both contexts. We can’t win it this weekend but we can certainly lose it.”
Tim Edwards – Team Principal
“After an overall successful enduro campaign we now have just five races to go in 2013 and it is all to play for. Phillip Island was a very happy hunting ground for us last year but with new cars and a completely resurfaced track the conditions are very different.
Mark and Will are both in with a genuine chance if things go our way and Dave is on form so they have a strong rear-gunner which could be critical across the final two events. Whatever happens at Phillip Island and Homebush the end of the year will be a great spectacle for fans, but make no mistake; we are in it to win it.”
EVENT NAME: Phillip Island 360
DATE: 22 – 24 November, 2013
LOCATION: Phillip Island, Victoria
EVENT NUMBER: 13 of 14
FORMAT: Friday – 3 x 30-minute practice; Saturday – 1 x 30-min practice, 1 x 20-min qualifying, 1 x 28-lap race; Sunday – 2 x 15-min qualifying, 2 x 23-lap races
CIRCUIT: Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit
LENGTH: 4.44-kilometres
DESCRIPTION: Phillip Island is the venue of FPR’s first round victory in 2003. The track combines fast straights with double-apex, radial and hairpin turns, providing a challenging combination. The circuit is also one of the most picturesque on the calendar and offers a range of elevation changes across the lap. ‘The Island’ also offers excellent vantage points for spectators.
TRACK RECORD: 1m33.27s – Craig Lowndes (2012)
FPR BEST RESULT AT PHILLIP ISLAND: 1st – Mark Winterbottom (2006 & 2012), Will Davison (2012).