V8 Supercars hit China.

Thirty -two V8 Supercars have arrived at Shanghai International Circuit ahead of the inaugural V8 Supercars round in Shanghai, China this weekend. This historic round of the V8 Supercar Championship Series will mark the first ‘fly-away’ international event for the series and is expected to be a landmark event for the sport and Australia. Two 747-400 Series Freighter Aircrafts landed at Pudong Airport,

Shanghai last Sunday carrying 32 V8 Supercars strapped into custom built car racks as well as more than 20 purpose built aircraft containers used to hold team equipment as well as spare engines (one per car), gear boxes (two per car) and wheels which were packed into communal cargo in the aircrafts.More than 400 team members and media flew into Pudong Airport Shanghai

this week all eager to see what the Chinese will make of this uniquely Australia category.Drivers have already started a hectic week of promotional activities,

sponsorship commitments and interviews with Chinese media in the lead up to the exciting time when the V8s will hit the track for the first time.“This country has so far been unbelievable,” Super Cheap Auto Racing’s

Greg Murphy said. “It is such a contrast to what we have in New Zealand and Australia and I would never have imagined how different the Chinese lifestyle and culture would be until we arrived here.“We have already received an overwhelming response from local media as

well as the community and I can guarantee I’m not the only driver who can’t wait to get out onto the Shanghai International Circuit.Shanghai – facts and figures with SBR

Release Date: 07/06/2005 The following are details relating to this weekend’s fifth round of the V8 Supercar Championship Series at Shanghai China. Also find following thoughts from both Pirtek Racing’s Marcos Ambrose and Caltex Racing’s Russell Ingall.

INTERESTING POINTS ABOUT CHINA

Not only is there great excitement surrounding the debut of the Aussie

V8 Supercars in China this weekend many of the drivers consider this weekend’s maiden race at the new Shanghai circuit could be a turning point in the championship.

While SBR driver Russell Ingall is sitting second in the overall

championship to Marcos Ambrose by 35 points – he is actually leading the title chase by 1 point when you deduct the worst result of the opening three rounds, as per the new Championship rules cover the points system.So far this year there has been four different winners in the first four

rounds but there has been one constant on the podium – Marcos Ambrose.Ambrose has finished in the top three in all four races and if he can do

it again in China it will be the first time since 2002 that a driver has been on the opening five podiums.

DRIVER’S THOUGHTS ON SHANGHAI CHINA….

MARCOS AMBROSE – STONE BROTHERS PIRTEK RACING

“I have been pretty excited about the China round since it was first

announced. A lot of people have worked enormously hard to make this happen and hopefully it will be a great success for everyone involved.

RUSSELL INGALL – STONE BROTHERS CALTEX RACING

“Over the years I have been in this situation a few times where the

series I am participating in has gone to a totally new venue. There are just so many variables involved and whoever deals with them best will have the best chance to winning the weekend. The logistics of putting this first race together have been incredible. The language barrier,different food and traffic conditions are three of the main factors we are going to have to deal with on a daily basis – and it won’t be easy.

If there is one thing Caltex Racing is good at, it is being prepared and I think that’s why we head to China with a very good chance.”

CRAIG LOWNDES – TEAM BETTA ELECTRICAL

According to the age old Asian culture the number 8 is deemed the

luckiest, most prosperous and most sought after number, 888 represents the zenith of this auspicious tradition. “I can’t wait to see the response we get from the Chinese when we roll out the car with 888 on it,” said Lowndes“I really hope we can uphold their traditions as the number 8 is almost

sacred in Asia.“It is always interesting when you go to a circuit that no one in the

field has been to before as it comes down to driver input instead of past results.“We are all going to be on an even playing field and I am looking

forward to the challenge of working with my engineer Campbell on a circuit that no one has ever seen or driven on before.

MARK SKAIFE – HOLDEN RACING TEAM

“We are going to find out which teams are the most technically skilled

at setting up a racing car, because none of us has driven the track before and it will certainly be a challenge for drivers and engineers to get their heads around,” he said.

CAMERON McCONVILLE – GARRY ROGERS VALVOLINE MOTORSPORT

“I was one of the first drivers to fly over to China for pre-race

promotional work around the Shanghai area from Tuesday onwards,” said McConville.“It’s a busy week planned as part of AVESCO and Network Ten commitments.

“We’re not using the full Grand Prix track that the Formula 1 cars use,

but the 4.5-kilometre length is ideal for our cars. If it was any longer it would probably get a bit boring for the fans and the cars would look a bit small on such a wide track compared to what we’re used of.

TEAM BOC ADD CHINESE FLAVOUR

This weekend’s landmark round of the V8 Supercars in Shanghai, China

will no doubt go down in history as one of the greatest Australian sporting export stories ever and Team BOC have decided to go that extra ile to ensure it is an even greater success.

The brainchild of Team Manager Kim Jones, Team BOC have ensured their

cars and drivers fit right into the Chinese culture and culinary offerings of Shanghai by making some subtle changes. So Aussie audiences, forget about John Bowe and Brad Jones. From now on it’s San Chow Bowe and Bradlee.

IT’S NOT ALL CHINESE TO WESTPOINT RACING

For V8 Supercar teams the toughest part of going to China this weekend

won’t be the racing, but the language barrier. In preparation for the Championship’s first foray into Asia, Westpoint Racing, this morning, learnt some of the Chinese language basics.

Mandarin teacher Ben Xie taught Dick Johnson, his team and the drivers

how to meet and greet Chinese style.“I got a call from Westpoint Racing to teach the team some Mandarin,”

Gold Coast TAFE Chinese language teacher Ben Xie said.

“It is important that they learn how to say hello, goodbye, please and

thank-you.“They may be asked where they are from so I taught them to say ‘Hello my

name is Dick Johnson and I am from Australia’.“I think they find it difficult because the pronunciation is very, very

hard.

DYNAMIC PLAY THE CHINESE NUMBER GAME

Team Dynamik has embraced the Chinese culture for this weekend’s V8

Supercar Championship Series round in Shanghai and changed the one thing that most race teams regard as sacred – its racing number.Simon Wills’ Boomerang Phonecard VZ Commodore will proudly sport the

number 168 for Round 5, instead of its usual number 44.Team Dynamik Technical Director Oscar Fiorinotto explained the number 4

implies “death” for many Chinese, and disturbingly, 44 means “double death”.“We thought the association of our usual racing numbers would bring us

bad luck for this round, “ Fiorinotto said.“The numbers 168 in combination also mean ‘road to prosperity’ … so now

we have the numbers sorted out we can concentrate on making a strong showing at one of the world’s most spectacular racing circuits,” he said.The 45 car, which is prepared in the Team Dynamik garage but driven by

Max Wilson for Longhurst Racing, has also changed numbers to 328. This combination means “profit and success” and a three-digit number also ensures good fortune.

CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS (After Round 4 of 13)