PRESS ROOM

Stone Brothers Determined to Take Hometown Win

Placemakers V8 Supercars, Pukekohe Park Raceway

Round 3

20-22 April 2007

Ross and Jimmy Stone are determined to make the most of their last chance to win their hometown round at Pukekohe Park Raceway before the event moves to Hamilton next year.

The New Zealand born brothers have approached round three of the V8 Supercar Championship Series in their customary understated fashion. However there is a quiet determination at Stone Brothers Racing to give the final V8 Supercar event at Pukekohe everything in the hope of coming away with the long awaited hometown victory.

The Stone brothers grew up in Onewhero, only 15km from the race track. They attended their first race meeting at Pukekohe in 1962, Ross aged nine and Jimmy aged 15.

The brothers have made no secret of the fact that this is one box they desperately want to tick and the Stone Brothers Racing team is right behind them to turn their dream into reality.

Caltex Racing’s Russell Ingall and JELD-WEN Motorsport’s James Courtney are well aware of the job they have ahead of them. Either of the pair would be thrilled to leave the Pukekohe circuit for the final time with a round victory under their belt.

Ingall has performed well at the 2.8km circuit in recent years, finishing on the podium in 2005 and 2006. Courtney, in only his second V8 Supercar round for SBR, finished eighth in his first hit out at the circuit.

SBR has shown good pace at the Pukekohe circuit in recent years. A bit of luck added to the team’s current form could see things swing SBR’s way, giving the team their maiden V8 Supercar victory in New Zealand and creating a fitting end to the V8 Supercar era at Pukekohe Park Raceway.

Points of Interest

SBR has never won at Pukekohe Park Raceway; the closest they have come is second in 2004 and 2005 (Marcos Ambrose and Russell Ingall), and third in 2001, 2002 (Marcos Ambrose) and 2006 (Russell Ingall)

James Courtney had his first V8 Supercar top ten finish at Pukekohe last year, finishing eighth for the round in only his second appearance for SBR.

The Caltex Racing Falcon will carry the Starlight Children’s Foundation ‘Star Day’ livery in place of the Vortex 98 logo. Star Day is on 4 May 2007 and raises vital funds for children and families who live with serious illness and hospitalization. Visit www.starlightday.org.au for more information.

Russell Ingall, #9, Caltex Racing

“Everyone knows that Ross and Jimmy really want to win this one but we go to each round to win regardless so the pressure is the same as any round. The preparation is the same.

“The pressure is spread across the whole team; we need the equipment to win races and I have to drive well to win races.

“I’ve got full confidence that I can do what’s required. With a good car we can win it. It’s as simple as that.

“We have gone close a couple of times before at Pukekohe. Last year we were third but we probably didn’t have the race pace to win.

“Pukekohe is a good little circuit but looking forward, going to Hamilton for a new street race will be really exciting. As a spectacle, street races are the way of the sport.

“Hopefully we can get the local boys Ross and Jimmy up there on the top step of the podium and give Pukekohe a fitting send off in its final year.”

James Courtney, #4, JELD-WEN Motorsport

“We’ve had some special instructions from Ross and Jimmy for this round; win or don’t come back from New Zealand!

“It’s not like that at all but it is a race they haven’t won and with them growing up just around the corner from the circuit it’s one they really want and this year is the last chance.

“There’s a bit of pressure on myself and Russell to deliver this weekend and with the cars getting better and better we’ve got a good shot.

“The JELD-WEN Motorsport Falcon has recovered after Barbagallo. It has a new front and new side and it is ready to roll.

“Even though it was repaired for Saturday’s qualifying at Barbagallo, there were a few things not right and we lost a bit of pace for the rest of the weekend.

“The guys spent a lot of time getting things right back at the workshop and made a few improvements along the way. We think we have made some more leaps forward and everyone is pretty excited about getting out there.

“We had a good round at Pukekohe last year; we came forward each race and we had quite good speed. The track is fast and flowing and hopefully we will have good engine power this weekend so we can mix it with the front runners.”

Ross Stone, Team Manager, Stone Brothers Racing

“Jimmy and I were talking the other day and it feels like the end of an era for us, the final V8 Supercar event at Pukekohe.

“Life moves on and I’m sure that Hamilton will be bigger and better but Pukekohe is a special place and has great atmosphere.

“We’ve been going to the circuit from when we were kids; racing there, taking cars there. It’s like anything in racing, you have good times and bad times but we have always enjoyed it.

“There isn’t any extra pressure on the team this weekend. It is business as usual; 100% effort for every round. We do have some new bits and pieces that we are running for the first time this weekend to see if we can find that edge that will give us a bit more.

“And there are no special instructions for Russell and James. For them, it’s self motivating, they know their job and we have every confidence in them every round.

“James is going very well and Russell has always raced strongly at Pukekohe. We’ve got some good speed at the moment so I think we have got a good shot at it.”

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