Marcos Ambrose explains sabbatical from V8 Supercars

Marcos Ambrose has for the first time opened up about why he stepped down from his V8 Supercars drive with DJR Team Penske after just two race weekends.
“It became pretty obvious to me that I wasn’t going to be able to do what was expected of me in that role right now. Once it came, it was a pretty solid thought. It was pretty clear,” said Ambrose to news.com.au.

The former double V8 Supercars champion had a tough couple of first races in his return to the championship, but still showed potential by for example qualifying eighth for the second race at the Clipsal 500.

“We picked up a lot of speed but it wasn’t clear to me how we got there. I couldn’t feel where the speed came from. I have a general lack of feel for the racecar. What it needs to go fast. What has worked in other cars doesn’t work now. That was as scary as anything,” said Ambrose.

Things became clear for the 38-year-old after the Melbourne GP where he, among other things, says he underestimated the difference from the cars he used to drive.

“We had a terrible weekend at the grand prix and it was because I didn’t qualify well enough. You cannot pass in these modern cars like you used to. The ability to race is different. Collectively, myself and the team, underestimated the size of the task and the current circumstances,” said Ambrose.

While Ambrose has stepped back, he is not giving up on the championship and is going to take part in the endurance races, with a possible later full-time drive return.

“It gives me plenty of time to work my way back into these cars. As a minimum I can take on the co-driver role. We don’t have any timeline apart from right here. What I do know is that the situation I’m in, I have question marks. And we have to eliminate as many as possible to move forward. We just don’t have time to lose,” said Ambrose.