23/10/2011
Ford Performance Racing’s (FPR) Mark Winterbottom and Richard Lyons have combined to give the team its first victory of the 2011 V8 Supercar season after taking the chequered flag first in today’s 102-lap race at the Armor All Gold Coast 600 at Surfers Paradise.

Winterbottom and Lyons combined to defeat 54 other drivers around the concrete jungle that is the Surfers Paradise street circuit.

Lyons held Winterbottom’s third place qualifying position throughout the opening laps and eventually handed the factory Ford team’s regular driver the #5 Orrcon Steel FPR Falcon in the same position it qualified.

Winterbottom then spent the next two-thirds of the race hunting down and harassing championship-leader Jamie Whincup until making the definitive pass on lap 94.

He eventually went on to claim a comfortable win to earn his 16^th career victory and the first for Northern Irishman Lyons.

The win moves ‘Frosty’ into fourth in the championship and solidifies FPR’s second place in the Team Championship.

Team-mates Will Davison and Mika Salo looked to again make it two FPR cars on the Surfers podium until Salo sustained a puncture and was forced to make an unscheduled stop on lap 31 – four laps earlier than would have allowed Davison to take the wheel.

The pair pushed back through the field and elected to stay on track during a safety car period where Davison gained the lead.

He stayed out front for 32 laps in front of Whincup and Winterbottom before making his final pit stop.

The required safety car that would allow Davison to gain back the necessary time never appeared and he and Salo settled for a disappointing 14^th.

Paul Dumbrell and Christian Klien had their race ended on the opening lap when an over-zealous Jan Magnusson punted Klien hard into the wall, causing substantial front-end damage to their factory Falcon.

The team earned seven of the event’s famous surfboard trophies across the weekend, including four yesterday for its double podium and an additional three today for the win and being the winning team.

Mark Winterbottom & Richard Lyons – #5 Orrcon Steel FPR Falcon
Qualifying: 3^rd – 1m11.13s

Race 22: 1^st – Fastest lap: 1m11.36s

Winterbottom championship position: 4^th – 1966 points

Winterbottom:

“Today is as much joy as it is relief. I knew yesterday that we were a genuine chance to take victory today if we could qualify well and we did just that. Winning on the soft tyre makes it just that much sweeter as the team has been working incredibly hard and to see their smiling faces at the podium is a result of a lot of hours work so I congratulate them all. Richard did a great job – he was clean and I hopped in and had a great car all race. It is probably one of the most special wins we’ve had as a team and we have bounced back strongly so it is very sweet.”

Lyons:

“It is hard to believe that my week has turned out how it has. To come and be able to work with a team like FPR, which is such an incredible outfit, is just an honour. The guys have had a few hard races this year but I could see from the moment I arrived that they were pushing so hard and wanted the win so much so to be a part of it is amazing. I’ve come away with two podiums and it is great to be part of it so I look forward to enjoying the moment with the team. I’d love the chance to come back and do it again so I hope this isn’t the last time I’m here in FPR overalls.”
Will Davison & Mika Salo – #6 Tradingpost FPR Falcon
Qualifying: 4^th – 1m11.27s
Race 22: 2^nd – Fastest lap: 1m10.08s (NEW LAP RECORD)

Davison championship position: 5^th – 1847 points

Davison:

“Firstly I’d like to congratulate Frosty and Richard and the whole team on winning today. Everyone has worked so hard in recent months and this is their reward. Mika and I looked set to join them on the podium as we continued our great qualifying speed from yesterday into today. Mika did everything right so it was a shame a puncture ruined our day when we could have made it an FPR 1-2. Smart strategy helped us stay in the hunt, though we needed a safety car to take full advantage of our new tyres at the end. Sadly it didn’t come but we know we are stronger than recent events. It was great to work with Mika and I know the whole team valued his feedback.”

Salo:

“It was a bad way to end our weekend as Will and the team didn’t deserve such bad luck. I could feel something was wrong just before the puncture but I wasn’t sure what it was. Maybe if I came it a lap earlier it could have been different but we can’t change that now. The team did its best to get us back to the front but the safety car never came out and that ruined our chance. I have had a great time here this year and FPR is a top professional team so I must say thanks to them and Will for making this week so much fun. It just would have been nice to go home with two surfboards rather than one.”

Paul Dumbrell & Christian Klien – #55 The Bottle-O FPR Falcon
Qualifying: 13^th – 1m11.56s

Race 22: DNF – Fastest lap: N/A

Dumbrell championship position: 24^th – 1012 points

Dumbrell:

“Our day was over before it began. Unfortunately I qualified lower than I should which put Christian in the pack again. We all know how crazy the start is here but clearly not all of the drivers got the message that you can’t pass in the middle of the fast chicane. Thankfully Christian is ok but the car needs some work and our day never got going so it was an early shower for both of us.”

Klien:

“I made a clean start and thought I was clear of the mess that we get on the first few turns here but unfortunately Jan Magnussen had another idea. I don’t know what he was doing as I was clearly far ahead of him. He pushed me into the wall at a fast part of the circuit and the car had a big impact. I am ok but I feel sorry for the team and Paul as we showed so much promise yesterday. Apart from today I had a lot of fun. These cars are cool to drive and this event is great so I hope I can come back again.”
Tim Edwards – FPR Team Principal
“Today was the result of a lot of hard work by our team over a number of months so they all have permission to celebrate – this success is fully deserved. To pass Triple Eight to do it makes it that much more special as we were made to work hard for the win. They are the sweetest victories. Frosty chased for a long time and worked hard to make the pass. He knew he had a faster car so it was just a matter of getting past which certainly made for exciting racing. I’ve known Richard for many years so when I rang him on Monday and he said yes we pulled everything together very quickly. This week is the first opportunity I’ve had to put him in one of my cars so while it was a late call he certainly did what was needed and then some. Will and Mika should be joining them but luck was not with them today. Christian was cruelly taken out on lap one but I thank him for all his hard work. He and Paul showed a lot of promise together. That aside, the whole team should be commended for their efforts in getting the win today.”

2011 V8 SUPERCAR CHAMPIONSHIP

ARMOR ALL GOLD COAST 600

RACE 22 – RESULTS:

1) Mark Winterbottom/Richard Lyons – Ford Performance Racing

2) Jamie Whincup/Sebastian Bourdais – Triple Eight

3) Lee Holdsworth/Simon Pagenaud – GRM

4) Greg Murphy/Oliver Gavin – Kelly Racing

5) Rick Kelly/Jorg Bergmeister – Kelly Racing

2011 V8 SUPERCAR CHAMPIONSHIP

DRIVER POINTS AFTER RACE 22

1) Jamie Whincup – Triple Eight: 2517 points

2) Craig Lowndes – Triple Eight: 2374

3) Shane van Gisbergen – Stone Brothers Racing: 2009

4) Mark Winterbottom – Ford Performance Racing: 1966

5) Garth Tander – HRT: 1956

6) Will Davison – Ford Performance Racing: 1847

2011 V8 SUPERCAR CHAMPIONSHIP

TEAM POINTS TABLE AFTER RACE 22

1) Triple Eight: 4916 points

2) Ford Performance Racing: 3838

3) Stone Brothers Racing: 3619