PRESS ROOM

SBR in the Points at Eastern Creek

Eastern Creek Raceway

Round 5, Race 2 / Race 3 Report

11 June 2007

Stone Brothers Racing drivers Russell Ingall and James Courtney have claimed valuable points at Sydney’s Eastern Creek Raceway today, keeping them inside the top ten in the V8 Supercar Championship Series.

Caltex Racing’s Russell Ingall claimed tenth for the round today while JELD-WEN Motorsport’s James Courtney made his way from the rear of the grid in race two to finish inside the top ten at the end of race three.

Courtney, who made his debut at the 3.93km circuit this weekend, crossed the line in ninth position in race three after starting from 14th on the grid.

After a clean start, the JELD-WEN Motorsport driver had a clear track for much of the race, holding off on his compulsory pit stop until lap 20.

Entering pit lane, Courtney experienced a lock up, forcing the JELD-WEN crew to make a late call to change four tyres. The decision paid off, with Courtney rejoining the race in ninth position where he stayed until the chequered flag.

Team-mate Ingall had more of a battle on his hands in race three. The Caltex Racing driver made his compulsory pit stop on lap six and rejoined the race to dice with Steven Johnson and Will Davison.

Unable to make inroads on the pair, Ingall finished the 31-lap race in 13th position.

Earlier in the day, Ingall started race two from seventh on the grid. After dodging a stalled Garth Tander on the start line, the Caltex Racing driver battled early with Steven Richards for sixth position. Ingall came off second best while attempting to pass the Ford Performance Racing driver, leaving the track and dropping four spots.

The Caltex Racing Falcon entered the pits on lap six, taking on two rear tyres. Upon rejoining the race, Ingall joined a procession of cars and held position, crossing the line in 11th place.

Courtney started race two from 29th position after failing to finish race one yesterday due to an electrical fault with the JELD-WEN Motorsport Falcon’s pit lane speed limiter.

Courtney again showed his skill and determination, making headway through the field early to be in 22nd position by before the compulsory pit stop window opened on lap five.

The JELD-WEN crew opted to run long, leaving Courtney’s compulsory pit stop until lap 17. Courtney rejoined the race in 16th position and used his fresh tyres to good effect, working his way up to 14th.

Courtney pushed Jason Bargwanna hard in the quest for extra points but two safety car periods in the closing stages of the race slowed his progress and he had to settle for 14th place.

James Courtney and Russell Ingall remain inside the top ten in the V8 Supercar Championship Series; Courtney is in eighth position on 124 points, just ahead of Ingall in ninth on 118 points.

Stone Brothers Racing maintains fourth position in the V8 Supercar Teams Championship.

Round six of the V8 Supercar Championship Series will take place at Hidden Valley Raceway in Darwin on 22-24 June 2007.

Russell Ingall, car #9, Caltex Racing

“We’re there roundabout but we’re not happy to just circulate around in tenth or eleventh; I’d much rather be at the pointy end giving the guys up there some curry.

“We had a bit of car speed this weekend but some of our strategy didn’t come off for us.

“Eastern Creek is a difficult circuit to pass on even though it is fast and flowing; it’s very much one line. We struggled to get back up there after Steven Richards and I carved each other up in race two and I dropped some spots.

“We’re disappointed that we couldn’t build on the progress from yesterday.

“On a positive note, we grabbed some points from a tough weekend to maintain ninth position in the Championship.”

James Courtney, car #4, JELD-WEN Motorsport

“It’s been quite a big weekend for us being the first time I’ve raced here.

“Starting from the rear of the grid today was tough but it was a good effort from the guys to finish up in ninth at the end of race three.

“The speed of the JELD-WEN Falcon was pretty good.

“I had to be a bit rough with a few of the guys on track in race two to get past. It’s not an easy track to pass on but we got through the field without too many dramas.

“We ran long in race three which worked for us. I knew I had to make a good pit entry for that final stop to gain the maximum number of places and I came in a bit hard and locked it up at pit entry.

“As it turns out, changing four tyres didn’t make any difference to our position.”

Ross Stone, Team Manager, Stone Brothers Racing

“Russell lost points and position in race two today after a touch up with Steven Richards early on. It’s so tough at the pointy end of the field to claw back positions after that.

“James started today at the back of the grid and did a great job to drive through from there.

“We had some great strategy and a very good pit stop. Unfortunately we had to put four tyres on after James came in a bit hot on the pit road. But that was probably the only error all weekend; he put in a great performance again.”

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SBR in the Points at Eastern Creek

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