GoldCoast, Australia – 26/10/09: Mark Winterbottom has continued his blistering
form despite illness today aboard his #5 Orrcon Steel FPR Falcon, coming
home for the win this afternoon and finishing second in this morning’s
race at the final day of racing for the 2009 Nikon SuperGP.That makes two wins, and two runner-ups
from the four 150km races this weekend for the driver who has been
battling a glandular illness this week, with the points he collected –
the most of any driver this weekend – elevating him to fifth in the
championship.Winterbottom beat home Holden Racing
Team’s Garth Tander and Jim Beam Racing’s James Courtney this
afternoon, after following TeamVodafone’s Craig Lowndes across the
line this morning while leading the third placed Tander.
“It is awesome to be back in the
winners circle,” said Winterbottom.
“Yesterday was a great day as well.
It’s awesome. The Orrcon Steel FPR Falcon was really good all
throughout the weekend and it is a credit to everyone in the Ford
Performance Racing team to have a car that can finish all four races
right up the front.
“It’s been a very tough weekend
that’s for sure but to come away with it and finally break through for
a win is really special.”
Also having the fans cheering today was
the tribute paid to three time F1 World Champion and the event’s
number one ticketholder Sir Jack Brabham today, with his grandson
Matthew driving the same model Cooper car he secured the first of his
world titles before pushing the car across the finish line (see separate
release).
Nikon SuperGP General Manager, Greg
Hooton confirmed a Sunday crowd of 57,355 for a four-day total of
205,260.
“To have a crowd in excess of 200,000
fans over the four days considering the build-up we had to this event is
a great result,” said Hooton.
“Sure we are down overall, but those
figures still make this event one of the best attended motorsport
events.
“I think the crowd enjoyed the final
race program and other activities and the whole precinct had a terrific
feel.”
Also on track today were the Pirtek
Australian Legends, who brought the memories flooding back for the fans
as they watched legends including Jim Richards, Dick Johnson, Kevin
Bartlett and John French carve up the track at near race speed in their
million-dollar machines.
Norm Beechey’s 1971 GTHO Super Falcon,
Allan Moffat’s 1969 Trans Am Mustang and Dick Johnson’s 1984 Greens
Tuf XE Falcon were among the head-turners in the field and thousands of
people strolled through the Pirtek Walk of Fame pit garages and there
were huge cheers as the drivers completed their laps.
In other racing, Ash Walsh was
victorious in the final race of the event for the Strategic Airlines
Formula Ford, leading Nick Percat and Geoff Uhrane across the line this
afternoon, while in the Hayman’s Electrical Mini Challenge Chris
Alajajian took the race three win ahead of Paul Stokell and Ryan
Hansford. In the Aussie Racing Cars, who enjoyed four races this
weekend, Adam Cowans, Jyle Clews and David Besnard made up the top three
in today’s final race
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