HAT-TRICK FOR FORD AND HAT-TRICK FOR FORD AT BATHURST

–
By Chris Dobie

Team
Vodafone’s endurance kings Craig Lowndes and Jamie Whincup have for
the third year in succession won the Super Cheap Auto Bathurst 1000 at
Mount Panorama.

The
duo are only the third driver pairing in the history of the iconic event
to win three consecutive titles and are the only combination to have
claimed the Peter Brock Trophy since its inception in 2006. 

In
a flawless execution of matching strategy, opportunity and machine the
Team Vodafone Supercars responded to every challenge put before them. In
a disciplined display of following a pre determined strategy whist
maximising every opportunity that presented itself Team Vodafone enjoyed
what could only be described as the perfect day.

For
Car #88 and our European imports it was a day of what could have been.
Fabrizio Giovanardi did an outstanding job of keeping up with the pack
in the opening stint, allowing Marc Hynes to capitalise on safety car
periods to consolidate a top ten position.

With
only 22 laps remaining Giovanardi was turned around by a tap in the rear
sending him back to the pits for repairs and dropping them off the lead
lap. 

A
commendable 16th finish from the team that had never seen the mountain
before has added to Team Vodafone’s championship tally.  

And
to complete the perfect day Jamie Whincup has taken the V8 Supercar
Championship lead.

What
they had to say- Car #888:

Craig
Lowndes

“This
result was a total team effort which everyone at Team Vodafone can be
proud of.”

“We
had an incredible car all weekend and everything just seemed to fall our
way.”

“To
now be etched in history alongside Peter Brock and Jim Richards is a
huge honor and achievement.” 

Jamie
Whincup 

“I
really can’t believe we have done it again, last year was pretty
special this year is awesome.”

“I
am just so happy that both Craig and I have managed to do what everyone
in the team has dreamt about.”

“What
can I say it was a perfect day.

What
they had to say- Car #88

Fabrizio
Giovanardi

“Getting
so close yet now feel so far I am more resolute in coming back to this
mountain and trying again.

“It
is certainly a special place and I can understand why so many drivers
welcome the opportunity to be involved.

“I
thought at one stage today that we were going to be inside the top ten
but unfortunately motorsport and that damn mountain got in our way. 

Marc
Hynes

“What
an amazing day. It was fantastic to be part of Team Vodafone this
weekend we really did learn about the highs and lows of Mount Panorama. 

“Despite
not getting much practice time in Fabrizio and I were looking at a solid
top ten finish as we went into the last stint.

___________________________________________________

–
By Ellie Corrigan

‘The
Great Race’-  that’s
what they call it, and this year’s event lived up to all expectations.
The Supercheap
Auto Bathurst 1000 run over the weekend saw Ford’s Jamie Whincup and
Craig Lowndes winning their third Peter
Brock Trophy in
a row; the first time this feat has been achieved since 1984. 

It
was an emotional win for Team Vodafone, especially for 34 year-old Craig
Lowndes, who was the protégé of former multiple winner Peter Brock.
Lowndes was visibly moved and in tears as he crossed the finish line. 

With
a record of over 187,000 motorsport fans filling Mt Panorama over the
four days, Whincup and Lowndes became the first pair, in 24 years, to
win three races in succession. 

Holden’s Rick and Todd
Kelly came in a close second place, seeing Whincup
shoot to the top of the V8 Supercar Championship table. New
Zealand’s Greg Murphy and Jason Richards came in a hard fought second
place. Crowd favorite Steven Johnson fought hard to keep second spot
right until the end when Murphy overtook the number XXX car, relegating
it to third place.

Early
in the race fans saw TV cameras capture an angry Murphy
after eventual winner Lowndes was not penalised for bumping his
car on the opening lap. However, after 161 laps of tough racing Murphy
was more than happy with second place for his relatively new team.

The
iconic four day event consists of support races as well as practice and
qualifying sessions for the roaring V8 supercars; culminating in
Saturdays electric Top 10 Shootout.

Lucky Escape: Paul “The Rat” Radisich was lucky to escape a
terrifying high speed crash and Saturday morning that destroyed the
Commodore he was to share with Rick Kelly.  I jammed throttle at
high speed sent the number 16 Commodore into an unprotected concrete
wall at over 180km/h. Radisich suffered and broken ankle in the
accident. Two years ago, Radisich suffered a broken leg at the same race
following another serious accident

_________________

Hard Luck for WPR Jesus
Racing. Local driver Andrew Fisher having his first race in a V8
Supercar as part of the Fujitsu development series was on track for a
solid finish to an encouraging V8 Supercar debut when he became the
innocent victim of another driver’s error of judgment. Hopefully
“Fishtail” fisher will have another crack at the Futjitsu series
later in the year.

_________________

The 888 Vodafone Falcon
of Craig Lowndes and Jamie Whincup again ran faultlessly with a perfect
race strategy for the classic 1000km event to claim their third Great
race win in a row.

_________________