05/03/2005

AMBROSE TO HEAD TO USA IN 2006

Back-to-back V8 Supercar champion Marcos Ambrose is to pursue racing interests in North America in 2006 and plans to leave the V8 Supercar Championship Series at the end of the current race year.

Ambrose is discussing several opportunities with Ford USA and hopes to have a firm program in place within a few months. His eventual goal is a drive in the NASCAR Nextel Cup.

In the meantime, Ambrose is totally focused on winning his third consecutive V8 Supercar title in his bosch-backed Pirtek Falcon for SBR, Ford and their fans in 2005.

Ambrose is in the process of competing in three V8 Supercar support races at the Foster’s Australian Formula One Grand Prix this weekend and will start his “three-peat” championship campaign at the Clipsal 500 in Adelaide on March 17-20.

SBR co-owner Ross Stone said that Ambrose would move to the USA with the blessing of his team and sponsors and will release him from his contract a year early at the end of 2005.

“Marcos has been a terrific part of this team for five years and has played a major role in our development and success,” said Stone.

“We would never stop a talented driver like Marcos from pursuing other opportunities.

“We know Marcos is as focused as ever on winning a third consecutive title for Pirtek, Ford, SBR and our fans and we will be doing everything possible to make that a reality.”

Ambrose said it was important to make his intentions clear at this stage of the year to be fair to his fans and end any speculation with US testing expected to get underway in the near future.

“The V8 Supercar Championship is a fantastic series and has been very good to me,” said Ambrose.

“I have to thank Ross and Jimmy Stone, Ford and Pirtek for their tremendous support and hopefully we can all share some future success.

“While nothing has been finalised at this stage, it was important for everyone that my intentions were made clear before the start of the season so we can get on with the job of trying to win a third consecutive title.”

Ford Australia President, Tom Gorman, said Ambrose's ambitions were something that all Ford fans could share.

“Marcos Ambrose is an important part of the global Ford family,” said Gorman.

“He has done a fantastic job for us since joining the V8 Supercar ranks in 2001 and we are confident he can continue his success as he chaces a third consecutive title this season.

“His decision to pursue a career path in the US is going to offer an exciting adventure which Ford Australia supports and will assist with where we can.”

At this stage Ambrose is set to test with a tier one Ford NASCAR Busch team over a two-day period in the near future. Further tests will be arranged as Ambrose’s V8 Supercar schedule permits, according to John Szymanski, Director, Sponsor Development, Ford Racing Technology.

“Dan Davis (Director Ford Racing Technology) and I both have the utmost respect for Marcos’ abilities on and off the racetrack,” said Szymanski.

“We feel Marcos’ move to America underlines the synergy among the different Ford racing programs around the world and we look forward to helping him with our vast resources and relationships to ensure a high degree of success.

“In the meantime we want to ensure that nothing detracts from Marcos defending his back-to-back V8 Supercar tiles in 2005.

“As a valued member of the Ford Racing "family" we look forward to welcoming Marcos to the newest chapter of his racing career.“