Orrcon Steel birthday boy confident on race pace
Friday, May 20th, 2011
Oliver Winterbottom made his first trek to the track today to celebrate Dad's 30th birthday!
Mark Winterbottom has given his assurance that things will be right once racing comes around tomorrow as he celebrates his 30th birthday today at Winton Motor Raceway.
Winterbottom is delighted with where the #5 Orrcon Steel FPR Falcon is in race-spec, but admits theres work to do on qualifying spec. The team will review data tonight and attempt to dial-in the front end more for tomorrows 20 minute qualifying session.
The Melbourne-based driver, who has his 10 week old son, Oliver on hand for the first time this weekend carded the eighth quickest time in practice 3 earlier this afternoon, before finishing 16th in the final practice session of the weekend.
Across the garage, team-mate Will Davison in the Orrcon Steel-supported #6 Trading Post FPR Falcon is feeling perplexed after his day.
In session three, Davison was 18th of the 28 runners, then bumped into the top 10 in session four, recording the ninth quickest time.
Earlier in the day, Steven Richards and Luke Youlden took to the wheel for the opening two sessions, which largely featured co-drivers for the upcoming V8 Supercars Season of Endurance.
Richards who is competing in Porsche Carrera Cup this year took the #5 Orrcon Steel FPR Falcon to the second quickest time in the second co-drivers session after taking his time to settle in during practice one.
Youlden who will partner Davison at Phillip Island and Bathurst in the #6 Orrcon Steel-backed factory Ford established 23rd and 22nd positions respectively in the two sessions conducted in fine but cool conditions this morning.
Tomorrow will see all drivers in a 20-minute all-in Qualifying session, followed by a Top 10 Shootout and then the opening encounter over 40 laps around the 3.0 kilometre country Victorian circuit.
The team at Orrcon Steel and all supporters of Orrcon Steel Racing pass on their best wishes to Mark Winterbottom for his birthday today and wish him all the best for the weekend.
QUOTES FROM THE DRIVERS:
MARK WINTERBOTTOM – #5 Orrcon Steel FPR Falcon:
”We’ve made solid progress with the racecar, however our qualifying car is not responding enough in the front end,” he said. “Qualifying is very important here and thats what were concentrating on tonight.
”The test last week has really helped our racecar – which was the priority – but we have to nail it with the qualifier. I know what we have to change and if we can get the car up the front in qualifying, I am confident that we will be in there fighting.
“We’ll be OK tomorrow.”
WILL DAVISON – #6 Trading Post FPR Falcon
”I’m a bit lost to be honest,” said Davison. “It’s a very different car to what we left with last week. I thought we had it under control after the test day, but it didn’t translate when we were on track today.
”We made plenty of steps forward at the test and it is there, I know it is. We have some work to do tonight but Im sure tomorrow will be fine.”
TEAM STEEL DRIVER STATS:
MARK WINTERBOTTOM #5 Orrcon Steel FPR Falcon
Current Championship Position: 9th, 665 points (-281 from Championship leader)
2010 Saturday Qualifying: 3rd
2010 Saturday Race: 15th
2010 Sunday Qualifying: 4th
2010 Sunday Race: 6th
Best Winton Qualifying: 1st 2008, 2009
Best Winton Race Result: 2nd Race 2 2008 & 2009
WILL DAVISON #6 Trading Post FPR Falcon
Current Championship Position: 5th, 714 points (-232 from Championship leader)
2010 Saturday Qualifying: 10th (7th after Shootout)
2010 Saturday Race: 22nd
2010 Sunday Qualifying: 12th
2010 Sunday Race: 18th
Best Winton Qualifying: 3rd 2008
Best Winton Race Result: 1st Race 2, 2008
WINTON MOTOR RACEWAY DETAILS:
Circuit: Winton Motor Raceway
Location: Winton (outside Benalla), Victoria
Circuit Length: 3.0 kilometres
Format: 20 minute qualifying both days, 1 x 40 lap race Saturday, 1 x 67 lap race Sunday
2010 Saturday Race Pole Winner: James Courtney
2010 Saturday Race Winner: James Courtney
2010 Sunday Pole Winner: Rick Kelly
2010 Sunday Race Winner: James Courtney
CURRENT CHAMPIONSHIP POSITIONS:
1. Jamie Whincup 946
2. Craig Lowndes 804
3. Garth Tander 737
4. Shane van Gisbergen 730
5. Will Davison 714
6. Rick Kelly 713
7. Jason Bright 674
8. Alex Davison 666
9. Mark Winterbottom 665
10. Steven Johnson 639
WEEKEND SCHEDULE
Times below are in Australian Eastern Standard Time
Saturday, May 21, 2011
Qualifying: 11:05am-11:25am
Race 1: 4:05pm (40 Laps)
Sunday, May 22, 2011
Qualifying: 10:05am-10:25am
Race 2: 1:05pm (67 laps)
TELEVISION SCHEDULE:
Times subject to amendment, please check local guides:
SEVEN NETWORK:
Saturday, May 21, 2011
2:30pm-5:30pm – Qualifying and Race 1 (Local time, all markets)
Sunday, May 22, 2011
Qualifying and Race 2
12:00pm-3:00pm – Local Time Sydney, Melbourne & Perth – Seven Network
12:00pm-3:00pm Local Time Adelaide – 7mate
2:30pm-3:30pm Local Time Brisbane 7mate – NB: Qualifying ONLY
3:45pm-5:30pm Local Time Brisbane Seven Network
10:30pm-1:30am Local Time Adelaide Seven Network – NB: Qualifying and Race 2 Replay
RACE REPLAYS:
SPEEDTV AUSTRALIA Channel 206 (HD) or 505 on Foxtel/Austar
Saturday, May 21, 2011
9:30pm-11:00pm Race 1
Sunday, May 22, 2011
5:00am-6:30am Race 1
7:00pm-9:00pm Race 2
Monday, May 23, 2011
1:00am-3:00am Race 2
3:00pm-5:00pm Race 2
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
8:00pm-11:30pm Races 1 & 2
