16 JULY 2010
DAVID RUSSELL SECOND OVERALL IN TOWNSVILLE
Team Jayco BF Falcon V8 Supercar driver David Russell has marked the mid point of the Fujitsu V8 Supercar Series with strong qualifying and race performances at the Sucrogen Townsville 400 over the weekend.
The 28 year old racer qualified 3rd on Saturday outpacing former main V8 Supercar Series drivers David Reynolds, Paul Morris and Craig Baird. After benefiting from a post qualifying penalty applied to James Moffat for a pit lane infringement, Russell started the opening race of the Townsville round from the front row at second on the the grid.
A solid 14 lap performance saw the Nando's Kirwan sponsored Jayco BF Falcon a close finish third after a race long chase of leaders Steve Owen and James Moffat. Russell also held off the advances of V8 Supercar veteran Paul Morris during the entire race.
In one of the more spectacular pieces of driving during the day, Russell was fortunate to have avoided disaster when David Reynold's Commodore engine exploded directly in front of him, spilling oil directly in front of the Team Jayco Falcon during the mid stages of the race. Russell's immediate evasive action saw him chase the leaders to the chequered flag and gain his fourth podium race finish of the 2010 season.
Sunday's second race saw Russell get off to a brilliant start, progressing from 8th to second on the opening lap but a second lap accident between James Moffat and Paul Morris saw an early Safety Car caution period. After the re-start, Russell wasn't able to maintain his chase of race leader Steve Owen due to a damaged rear roll bar, caused by a heavy suspension impact during the race. Russell dropped to 4th due to this, but held off former main series driver Craig Baird and returning Fujitsu Series racer Taz Douglas to retain his 4th place at the completion of 13 laps.
The third and final race of the round saw Russell storm into the lead from the front row on the grid and gain a 1.2 second gap over Championship leader Steve Owen after the opening lap.Owen's Commodore pursued Russell closely and on the 5th lap Owen impacted Russell's Team Jayco Falcon, throwing the driver into a spin and dropping him to 6th. From this point Russell set fast lap times to progress to 4th by the completion of 18 laps.
This result secured the talented Fujitsu Series V8 Supercar driver second overall for the Townsville round and fourth in the Fujitsu V8 Supercar Championship standings with two rounds remaining.
"We earned some great points this weekend and came away with a strong result of second overall, but I am a bit disappointed that I didn't get up and win a race in Townsville as I like racing on the Reid Park circuit and we had a very strong Team Jayco Falcon. I have reduced the gap considerably to the top three drivers in the series despite having been spun out of three races so far this season, including the third one here. I am looking forward to continuing this form into my main V8 Supercar Series endurance racing drive with Jonathon Webb at DJR," he said.
"I'd like to thank Nando's Townsville for coming on board at this round along with all of my season sponsors including Jayco, Hydraulink and Tex On Site," he added.
BE WATCHING CHANNEL 7 ON SATURDAY 17th July at 12.30pm
5 JULY 2010
Youlden gets late Fujitsu Series call-up
Author: SpeedCafe ©Luke Youlden will compete in the Falcon formally campaigned by Ant Pederson. The car will feature new support from Watersports, Turtle Wax and PalmTrans.
Luke Youlden will make his first Fujitsu V8 Supercars Series start for the year this weekend at the Townsville street circuit.
Youlden steps into the MW Motorsport Falcon BF, driven in the first three rounds of the series by New Zealander Ant Pederson, who has pulled out due to budget constraints.
The addition of Youlden further strengthens an already competitive Fujitsu V8 Series field. Youlden joins David Reynolds, Craig Baird, Steve Owen, James Moffat, Paul Morris and David Russell, plus more, who will compete in the Main Series endurance races at Phillip Island and Bathurst.
Youlden is signed to drive with Ford Performance Racing in the endurance races and is expected to be named as Mark Winterbottom’s team-mate in the #5 Orrcon Steel FPR Falcon FG in the two traditional V8 endurance races, as well as the Armor All Gold Coast 600.
The car that Youlden will drive is the chassis that he drove in the 2008 endurance races with FPR. Jonathon Webb won the Fujitsu V8 Series in it last year.
Youlden said that the biggest advantage of securing the seat time is the ‘qualifying and race condition’ mileage he’ll get.
“The deal only come together late,” he said. “It’s not so much the extra miles that is the benefit, but the opportunity to get laps on green (new) tyres. You don’t get that chance in testing anymore, and also, to get a couple of starts under my belt as well. That’s going to be really important for Phillip Island.
“I think it is all of those little things that you don’t really get in testing that’s going to help."
“I’m anticipating being competitive, but we’ll be up against some pretty good guys. I think it will probably be one of the better races of the year.”
Youlden has not competed at Townsville before but is looking forward to the challenge of a new track. “I’ve done my research on Townsville. I’ve watched a lot of tapes,” he said. “All of the guys have been telling me it’s an awesome track. I’m looking forward to getting there. Apparently it looks a fair bit different on TV to what it actually is, but we’ll do the best we can."
“I don’t actually turn up until late Thursday night due to some other work, so I miss out on the track walk on Thursday. I’ll do the best I can with what we’ve got and I think we’ll be right.”
Team owner Matthew White said that Youlden should be one of the front runners.
“We are looking forward to working with Luke,” he said. “I have raced against Luke for many years and he races well. It’s going to be a tough field and we’re starting a little on the back foot as Luke has never driven with us but we're confident he will do a great job.”
White also said that he is hoping to get Pederson back in the car for the remaining three Fujitsu V8 rounds at Bathurst, Sandown and the Sydney street track.
14 MAY 2010
Ant Pedersen’s late Fujitsu sponsor rescue
Author: SpeedCafe ©Ant Pedersen's NHP-sponsored Matthew White Motorsport Ford Falcon BF Fujitsu V8 Series rookie standout Ant Pedersen was almost a non-starter at this weekend’s third round at Winton Motor Raceway.
On Wednesday, the young New Zealander was resigned to the sidelines due to a shortfall of budget, but a late deal with electrical engineering supplier NHP rescued his ride.
The Matthew White Motorsport driver, currently third in the Fujitsu Series, told Speedcafe.com.au that NHP’s sponsorship was the key to his presence at Winton.
“It’s all down to NHP coming on board, and it’s fantastic that we can be here and continue the run that we’ve started. Hopefully we can get another positive, strong result this weekend,” he said.
“It has been a dream start to my rookie year – it really has been. It would have been frustrating to not be out here, but that’s behind us, we’re here, and we’ve got to make the most of it.”
Despite the strong start to the year in the first two rounds, Pedersen says that he still has a great deal to learn in the category.
“We’re still a long way off where we need to be,” he said.
“A few people have said I should be looking at the championship but that’s far from where I’m thinking. There’s a lot to learn and a lot of pace to find. I think there’s still a long way ahead.”
With eight-weeks between Winton and the next round at Townsville, Pedersen has some time to find more sponsorship to continue his run, but is also hopeful of securing a ride in this year’s V8 Supercars endurance races.
The Kiwi said that he is aiming at locking in a drive with Matthew White Motorsport’s Wildcard entry.
“I’d love to be involved in the endurance races. I want to be in the Main Game one day, and a good way to start is to drive in the enduros this year,” he said.
“There’s no way anyone’s going to give me a chance if I haven’t been involved in it, and a Wildcard entry with Matthew White would be a good start. It would be a car that I know and an environment that I know and would take a lot of pressure off.
“Being in the Main Game is where I want to be, but I’ve got to remain realistic. My dad raced V8s back home in New Zealand, and back there, V8 Supercars has a big ‘wow factor’ surrounding it. Everyone loves them, and it’s what I’ve wanted to do since I was a kid.”
9 MARCH 2010
MW Motorsport confirms drivers for FV8s
David Russell, Anthony Pederson and Matthew Hamilton have been confirmed as Matthew White Motorsport’s drivers for this year’s Fujitsu V8 Supercars Series.
The MW Motorsport will field three Ford Falcon BFs, with the third entry being for the Team Kiwi Racing’s Matthew Hamilton.
Russell, who finished third in last year’s Fujitsu V8 Series with Howard Racing, will drive the #28 Falcon, backed by Jayco Caravans. The car he will steer is the team’s ex-Mark Winterbottom/FPR chassis.
New Zealander Pederson, a rookie in V8 Supercars, will drive the #26 Falcon, campaigned by Jonathon Webb to victory in last year’s series. His car will feature a sequential gearbox.
The TKR entry for Hamilton will be the MW Motorsport-built Falcon.
Team owner White said that he is pleased with the line-up he has secured for this season.
“I’m pretty happy with the way the line-up has panned out,” he said.
“I was fortunate to get one of our long-term sponsors on board in Jayco Caravans. It has stepped up and joined us for this season, as well as Lubrimaxx.
“Those couple of deals coming together, very late in the piece mind you, have helped it along. As of Wednesday last week, we had nothing in place, but from Thursday it started moving slowly, and by Sunday it was all confirmed. And with Monday being a public holiday in Melbourne, it’s put a lot of pressure on the organisation. Even though the cars are ready, we’ve still got to get them painted and sign-written.
“But I’m pretty excited for the year ahead. David will do a good job. He tested very well and I’m confident he’ll run at the front.
“I’m interested to see how Anthony will go. He tested with us last week and his times were very impressive. He’s a nice, enthusiastic kid, so that should rub off well on the team. I reckon he’ll be a dark horse.
“We’ll put together three well-sorted cars and see where it all goes from there.”
The first round of the Fujitsu V8 Series kicks off this weekend at the Clipsal 500, with the class’s first practice session at 9.30 on Thursday morning. Two races will be held on Friday and Saturday.