Photo: BAM Media

FPR duo aiming for a three-peat

By

Mark Winterbottom and Steve Richards will be aiming to continue Ford Performance Racing’s unbeaten run in the Gulf Air Desert 400, round 12 of the 2008 V8 Supercar Championship Series, at the Bahrain International Circuit this weekend.
The duo, who currently sit second and sixth in the championship standings respectively, believe the wide-open spaces of the Bahraini circuit should once again suit the pair of FPR Falcons.

Of the six races contested around the 3.82km circuit the FPR outfit has taken the victory in three of them providing Winterbottom and Richards with a swag confidence as they board the plane for their second overseas round of 2008.

Winterbottom was the dominant driver in the corresponding round last year to break through for the maiden sprint round victory of his career. The driver’s former team-mate, Jason Bright, took out the inaugural round contested in the Middle East during 2006.

“We’ve won at Bahrain for the past two years and there is no reason why we can’t make it three in a row this weekend,” said Winterbottom.

“With three rounds left in the championship it is certainly ‘game on’ in the chase for the championship, there is still 900 points up for grabs and the top three drivers are separated by less than 100 points so anything can happen.”

After finishing tenth in the most recent round on the Gold Coast, Richards is setting his sights on the top three to secure his third podium finish of the year aboard the Orrcon-backed #6 Castrol FPR Falcon.

“Bahrain is a round that the FPR crew has virtually dominated over the past couple of years, the track really seems to suit our cars,” said Richards.

“It is a track that is very tough on tyres and brakes, you’ve really got to make the most out of your first qualifying lap because the surface is very aggressive on the tyre compound we use.

“With the circuit being long and wide it provides a number of good passing opportunities where you can have a good go at someone under brakes, especially if you have got a strong car late in the race.”

With three rounds remaining in the 2008 championship, Jamie Whincup leads the way on 2616 points. Winterbottom is in second place, 75 points adrift of his fellow Ford driver. Richards is in sixth place on 1988 points.