TRACK FACTS – WINTON

Venue: Winton Motor Raceway, North-East Victoria
2003 Race format: Top 10 Shootout (Sunday); 1 x 300km race with compulsory tyre and fuel stops (Sunday)
Circuit Length: 3.00km
Circuit Direction: Clockwise
Average Speed: 129 km/h
Maximum Speed: 240 km/h (Pit Straight)
Qualifying Record: Jason Bright (Holden Commodore, 2002) (Ford Falcon, 2000) 1:22.6618s
Lap Record: Jason Bright (Holden Commodore, 2002) 1:23.1514s

WINTON RACEWAY – A LAP WITH MARCOS AMBROSE

You pass the new pits and hit the limiter in fifth at the end of the straight, jam down a couple of gears and turn and aim to bounce off the curb on left hand side. Hopefully that will get the car pointing in the right direction to go through the right-hand exit.
On the exit you use all the track you can, including some of the old pits on the inside of the track and blast down to the old turn one. The road drops away here so you are actually turning in blind.
The track is very narrow, you want to use the outside curb, but be careful not to put a wheel over the edge. This is actually two turns blended into one. If you can get out cleanly you can jump up to fifth for the fastest corner of the track.
You drop down to fourth and travel at about 200kms. You fight the car on the exit of this sweeper. Depending how successful you have been depends on your next move.
The track moves right and you need to hit the curb to get the car straight to brake for the hairpin. Then there is another series of right and left turns in second gear. There is no overtaking you just need to get through here and get a clean run on to the short chute.
You then go into a second-gear left hander on to the new part of the circuit and blast your way down the back straight. You just get up to fifth gear before notching back to second for the right hander.
This part of the circuit is very flat, so you need to be careful because the car tends to jump around a bit. The next right hander is vital in getting a good run on to the straight.
Power down is what the game is all about here as you head back to the start-finish line. My pole lap here last year was pretty rewarding.

THOUGHTS ON WINTON…

MARCOS AMBROSE – PIRTEK RACING

Any circuit where you don’t use top gear with your shortest differential ratios is too slow. I prefer high-speed flowing circuits and Winton is not that. While saying that, Winton does produce its own set of challenges which usually result in good racing. The circuit must also be congratulated on the amount of money it has pumped back into the facility for the teams, fans and media. It was great to take pole there last year, especially when you realise how many Holden teams use it as their test track.

MOST MEMORABLE MOMENT

The Benalla Motor Inn - every time I stay there.

CHAMPIONSHIP RESULTS (After Round 4, 2003)

2003 Points standing: 9th (405 points)
Debut: 2001
Starts: 29
Poles: 9 - Eastern Creek (2003); Phillip Island, Oran Park, Winton, Qld 500, Sandown (2002); Eastern Creek, Qld 500, Bathurst (2001)
Race wins: 5 (Last win – Eastern Creek (Rd 3), 2003)
Round wins: 3 – Eastern Creek (2003), Sandown (2002); Hidden Valley (2001)

WINTON RECORD

2002 – Qualified 1st; Race 1: 2nd; Race 2: 4th; Overall: 3rd
2001 – Qualified 18; Race 1: 5th; Race 2: 3rd; Overall: 5th

THOUGHTS ON WINTON…

RUSSELL INGALL – CALTEX HAVOLINE RACING

Winton had been my test track for many years before joining SBR this season. It is a bit like racing around your backyard even after they extended it, but such a small track always seems to produce good racing. The country race fans are a great bunch and always polite, which makes going to the meeting a lot of fun. They certainly enjoy themselves and we enjoy putting on a show. SBR had a strong result at Winton in 2002, so I am looking forward to returning in a Ford.

MEMORABLE MOMENT

It was probably in 1997 sitting behind Larry (Perkins), who was leading for the entire race. All I kept thinking was how much trouble I would get into if I tipped him off. I did not take the risk. I thought job security was a better option. My pole and round win in 2001 is also a pleasing memory.

CHAMPIONSHIP RESULTS (After Round 3, 2003)

2003 Points standing: 4th (459 points)
Debut: 1996
Starts: 85
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)

WINTON RECORD

2002 – Qualified 14th; Race 1: 9th; Race 2: 6th; Overall: 7th
2001 – Qualified 1st; Race 1: 2nd; Race 2: 1st; Overall: 1st
2000 – Qualified 11th; Race 1: 8th; Race 2: DNF; Race 3: 7th; Overall: 10th
1999 – Qualified 3rd; Race 1: 4th; Race 2: 3rd; Race 3: 2nd; Overall: 3rd
1998 – Qualified 4th; Race 1: 1st; Race 2: 2nd; Race 3: 3rd; Overall: 2nd
1997 – Qualified 2nd; Race 1: 2nd; Race 2: 1st; Race 3: 1st; Overall: 1st

WEEKEND SCHEDULE

V8 SUPERCARS

Friday

2.00pm-3.30pm – Practice session

Saturday

10.00am-10.35am – Practice
12.25pm-1pm – Qualifying (Lower 50%)
3.30pm-3.50pm Qualifying (Upper 50%)

Sunday

9.30am-9.50am – Warm-up
11.20am-11.50am – Top 10 Shootout
1.10pm-3.20pm Race (300km – 100 Laps)

TV TELECAST – NETWORK TEN

Sunday – May 25

1.30pm-2.30pm – RPM
2.30pm-5pm – Round 4 V8 Supercar Championship Series