TRACK FACTS – BARBAGALLO

Venue: Barbagallo Raceway, Wanneroo, WA
2003 Race format: Top 10 Shootout & 100km race (Saturday); 2 x 100km races (Sunday)
Circuit Length: 2.41km
Circuit Direction: Clockwise
Average Speed: 150 km/h
Maximum Speed: 245 km/h (Main Straight)
Qualifying Record: Russell Ingall (2001) 0:57.5199
Shootout Record: Paul Radisich (2001) 0-57.2542
Lap Record: Craig Lowndes (1996) 0:57.9950

A LAP WITH MARCOS AMBROSE

Barbagallo has never really been kind to me, but hopefully we will change all that this weekend.
The surface of the track is very abrasive, especially on windy days with surrounding sand blowing on the circuit.
The track really offers a bit of everything with tight, hard-braking corners and a 250km-plus straight – the fact that you actually disappear over the hill also adds plenty of suspense for the crowd.
You head over the start finish line in fifth gear at around 200kph, but your mind is filled with what you are going to do at turn one.
This right-hander is very flat and it is easy to lock a wheel – any mistake and you can end up bogged in the sand on the outside of the corner. This corner is always pretty spectacular on the opening lap of any race.
This is one big right-hander which shoots you into a sequence of quick left and rights – you are constantly bouncing off the kerbs setting yourself up for the sweeping left-hander up the hill, pulling a couple of gears as you go.
The left hander is a sweeping double apex up the hill which you basically tackle in third gear.
It is then a short change to fourth as you reach the brow of the hill before turning the car right.
This is where we had a lot of trouble carrying speed last year. The track narrows up on the way out and we always tended to run off the circuit – I am sure that will be a little different in the BA Pirtek Falcon this weekend.
You then race down the hill and set yourself up for the right hand loop – this is heavily cambered to the inside and is much faster than you think.
It is important to get through here without locking a wheel and get on the gas as early as possible for the run up over the hill.
Timing is everything here because the rear of the car tends to get away on you if you get on the power too early.
You race up over the hill and hit sixth gear and around 250km just over the rise before getting on the brakes about half way down the straight.
This is a really aggressive stop because you start a gradual climb as you approach the final corner.
Any mistake here and you are into the gravel on the outside of the turn.
It is vital not to hit the kerb on the inside, but it is equally important to bounce off the outside kerb to straighten up the car for the run down pit straight and back into turn one.
A good lap will take you just over 57 seconds – that’s one of the quickest laps in the championship.

THOUGHTS ON BARBAGALLO…

MARCOS AMBROSE – PIRTEK RACING

It is one of the only tracks in the world that I seem to struggle on constantly. I have been there four times, twice in a Formula Ford and twice in a V8 Supercar and I am yet to get on the podium. It is a “bogey” track for me and I desperately want to turn that around this year.

MOST MEMORABLE MOMENT

In 1997 I was in Formula Ford and I was in a qualifying session. I was sitting in about 18th and was just cruising around trying to get a tow. My pit crew thought I was just mucking around, because there is no radio communication, and the next thing I knew my lap board came flying over the pit wall at me while I was one the track. Ironically, that lap was my fastest of the day.

CHAMPIONSHIP RESULTS (After Round 4, 2003)

2003 Points standing: 4th (597 points)
Debut: 2001
Starts: 30
Poles: 10 – Winton, Eastern Creek (2003); Phillip Island, Oran Park, Winton, Qld 500, Sandown (2002); Eastern Creek, Qld 500, Bathurst (2001)
Race wins: 6 (Last win – Winton, 2003)
Round wins: 4 – Winton, Eastern Creek (2003), Sandown (2002); Hidden Valley (2001)

BARBAGALLO RECORD

2002 – Qualified 16th; Race 1: 6th; Race 2: 24th; Race 3: 10th; Overall: 11th 2001 – Qualified 18th; Race 1: 18th; Race 2: 16th; Race 3: 24th; Overall: 19th

THOUGHTS ON BARBAGALLO…

RUSSELL INGALL – CALTEX HAVOLINE RACING

I have always had a strong fan base in WA and that obviously makes the trip worthwhile. It was a good move that Barbagallo ended up back on the calendar after being a bit “shakey” at one stage. The track is a very good design and undulating. If they threw down a new layer of track it would be one of the best circuits in Australia. At the moment it is very abrasive and very sandy, which plays a bit of havoc with the tyres after a few laps.

MEMORABLE MOMENT

One year I did what NASCAR drivers say to do and hit everything, including the pace car. I had clipped a wall and was reversing back on to the track, but did not realise the pace car was behind me. I was also leaving the track one Saturday night when some naked guy came running out of the camping area beside the track and tried to hand me a can of VB.

CHAMPIONSHIP RESULTS (After Round 4, 2003)

2003 Points standing: 3rd (633 points)
Debut: 1996
Starts: 86
Poles: 1 Winton (2001)
Race wins: 20 (Last Win – Race 2, Canberra 2002)
Round wins: 8 - Winton (2001); Qld 500 (1999); Lakeside, Mallala, Hidden Valley (1998); Phillip Island, Winton (1997); Calder (1996)

BARBAGALLO RECORD

2002 – Qualified 9th; Race 1: 16th; Race 2: 27th; Race 3: 14th; Overall: 20th
2001 – Qualified 4th; Race 1: 3rd; Race 2: 3rd; Race 3: 17; Overall: 4th
2000 – Qualified 4th; Race 1: 4th; Race 2: 3rd; Race 3: 4th; Overall: 4th
1999 – Qualified 13th; Race 1: DNF; Race 2: 10th; Race 3: 4th; Overall: 11th
1998 – Qualified 2nd; Race 1: 3rd; Race 2: 3rd; Race 3: 2nd; Overall: 3rd
1997 – Qualified 2nd; Race 1: 10th; Race 2: 5th; Race 3: 6th; Overall: 5th
1996 – Qualified 9th; Race 1: 15th; Race 2: DNF; Race 3: 6th; Overall 9th

CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS (AFTER 4 OF 13 ROUNDS)

1: Jason Bright (Holden) 717
2: Steve Richards (Holden) 666
3: Russell Ingall (Ford) 633
4: Marcos Ambrose (Ford) 597
5: Paul Weel (Holden) 597
6: Mark Skaife (Holden) 597
7: Greg Murphy (Holden) 597
8: Craig Lowndes (Ford) 594
9: Paul Radisich (Ford) 540
10: Rick Kelly (Holden) 507

WEEKEND SCHEDULE

V8 SUPERCARS (All times Perth Local)

Friday

2.30pm-3.05pm – Practice session

Saturday

9.15am-9.50 – Practice session
11.30am-11.50am– Qualifying (Lower 50%)
11.55am-12.15pm Qualifying (Upper 50%)
2.15pm-2.45pm – Top 10 Shootout
4.10pm-5.30pm – Race 1 (42 Laps)

Sunday

8.25am-8.45am – Warm-up
10.35am-11.30am – Race 2 (42 Laps)
1pm-2.30pm – Race 3 (42 Laps)

TV TELECAST – NETWORK TEN

Sunday – June 8, 2003 (Eastern Standard Time)

1.30pm-2.30pm – RPM
2.30pm-5pm – Round 5 V8 Supercar Championship Series