FPR: “This is the greatest day in our team’s history”

The Victoria-based Ford Performance Racing squad is celebrating its first Bathurst 1000km, won in style with Mark Winterbottom holding off Triple Eight’s Jamie Whincup throughout the closing stages of the world’s most famous endurance touring car race at Mount Panorama.

The team have hailed the victory as their greatest achievement in their relatively short history in the V8 Supercars Championship.

“Today is without doubt the greatest day in our team’s history,” said FPR team principal Tim Edwards.

“Winning at Bathurst has been the biggest thing on our list to tick off since we started 11 years ago. Everyone knows our history at this race so to win in the manner we did just makes it that much sweeter. Mark and Steve were faultless, the pit stops were faultless and our strategy gave us track position at the right times in the closing laps so to come here and execute our plan to the letter all day is very satisfying.”

Mark Winterbottom, winning his first Bathurst 1000km in his 11th year of trying, was elated with the result.

“Today was just unbelievable,” he said.

“The way the race unfolded and to win it the way we did and alongside Richo just makes it that more special. Doing it with this team and Ford is a reward for a lot of people for many years of hard work.

“The response on the podium was just ridiculous to see all those fans and the sea of blue Ford flags, to hear them chanting FPR was something I will never forget. The team has been written off a few times but today was the ultimate way to bounce back and prove our doubters wrong.”

Steven Richards took his third Bathurst victory today, sharing the #5 Ford Falcon with Winterbottom. Richard’s first two Bathurst wins came back in 1998 and 1999, but Richards proclaimed today’s victory as the best of the three.

“I know the trials and tribulations this team has had so this is the best and a real reward for everyone,” he said. “It was incredibly hard to watch Mark drive those final 40 laps and I was definitely more nervous than he was driving the car, but to be on the wall with the team celebrating was a very special moment.

“I’ve been driving the car the two other times I’ve won so it was nice to see how the team experiences a win.”