The Ford Performance Racing (FPR) V8 Supercar team has completed a comprehensive two days of pre-season testing at Victoria’s Winton Raceway today.
Held in hot and humid conditions throughout both days, FPR Falcon drivers Steve Richards and Mark Winterbottom were in strong form throughout the test, Richards’ Castrol FPR Falcon heading Monday’s timesheets ahead of rival drivers from Team Perkins Racing, Holden Racing Team, HSV Dealer Team, Garry Rogers Motorsport and Team BOC.
Orrcon Ford Credit FPR Falcon driver Winterbottom was also in strong form throughout, saving his best lap of the entire test for last at the end of Tuesday’s running. The 25 year old set a scorching 1:22.53s lap - almost half a second faster than all of the other drivers testing at Winton today. Richards’ fastest lap time today of 1:23.01s ensured that the two FPR Falcon drivers were once again at the top end of the timesheets on day two.
Aside from setting consistently impressive lap times during this two day test, the team also used their first test days of the season to evaluate a number of new components, while also practicing endurance runs and re-fuelling pit-stops. This was a key element of the team’s preparation for the two season opening 250 kilometre street races at the Clipsal 500, the V8 Supercar Championship Series curtain raiser to be held in Adelaide next week.
#5 Mark Winterbottom - “We worked hard on getting the car’s platform right and making sure all was good for Adelaide. Having come here with a number of aero changes and a new brake package along with a number of changes developed over the off season, it is great for our confidence to walk away from this two day test having done the quickest lap that we have ever done here by quite a margin. A very good test, great reliability and a reflection of the great job the team has done in preparing the cars. “
#6 Steve Richards - “It has been a good two days, we have discovered some ergonomic issues with my car that we will address, but aside from those it was a very productive and encouraging two day test. The team has developed two fast and reliable cars ahead of the start of the season and we couldn’t be better prepared. “
FPR Motorsport Director, Tim Edwards - “A fantastic start to the season with quick and reliable cars, completing in excess of 250 laps on the second day. We worked particularly hard on race set-up for Adelaide and every objective we set out to achieve was successful. Our performance over the past two days is testament to the great work the team has done during the off-season and we are looking forward to Adelaide. ”
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