CALTEX DRIVERS SEEK FURTHER SUCCESS ON THE APPLE ISLE

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As the 2007 V8 Supercar Championship Series heads to a dramatic climax, the quartet of Caltex-backed drivers are seeking further success in the Falken Tasmania Challenge at Symmons Plains this weekend.

With this weekend's round being the penultimate in the 2007 series, it could prove vital in the outcome of the overall championship standings.

Both Craig Lowndes and Russell Ingall have tasted success at the Symmons Plains venue previously. Lowndes has won twice (1996 & 1998) while Ingall claimed the round during the championship's return to Tasmania in 2004.

Lowndes enters this weekend's 13th round second in the championship standings having won three rounds throughout the year in his #888 Caltex-backed TeamVodafone Falcon.

Ingall, who is enjoying some good late season form in his Caltex Racing Falcon, believes that qualifying will prove vital to the outcome of this weekend's round. Aided with the knowledge that he has qualified inside the top ten at each of the past four rounds, including a season's best third in Bahrain, the formers series champion is full of confidence as he heads to Tasmania.

Caltex-backed TeamVodafone driver Jamie Whincup entered the previous round in Bahrain leading the points standings but an array of incidents left him heading back to Australia without adding to his points tally and dropping to third spot in the championship.

James Courtney secured his second podium finish in three rounds by finishing runner-up in the Desert 400 at the Bahrain International Circuit and enters this weekend full of confidence. The ex-Formula 1 test driver showed good speed in his first visit to Symmons Plains last year and will be looking to transfer this speed into an outright result this weekend.

Practice for round 13 of the V8 Supercar Championship will be held on Friday afternoon followed by qualifying and race one on Saturday. A pair of 50-lap races will be held on Sunday to complete the round.

With two rounds remaining, Garth Tander is the championship leader, 20 points clear of Lowndes who is followed by Whincup and Rick Kelly.

CALTEX QUOTEBOARD

Russell Ingall ˜ Driver of the #9 Caltex Racing Falcon
‘Symmons Plains is one of the more simple tracks that we go to,’ said Ingall.

‘It's got one of the heaviest braking corners and the sharpest first gear turn followed by one of the longest straights. Predominately it is these three things that make or break a fast lap time.

‘It's essential that you work around that.

‘Qualifying is very important in Tasmania; the lead in to that first hairpin has claimed plenty of cars over the years.

‘You really want to be at the pointy end on that first lap to give yourself a better chance of making it through.’

Craig Lowndes - #888 Team Vodafone Ford Falcon
‘Without a doubt this is a critical round for us,’ said Lowndes.

‘This is a circuit where you need good power down and braking to cement a result.

‘We have shown this year that we have the pace now we just need a little bit of luck to go our way.’

Jamie Whincup - #888 Team Vodafone Ford Falcon
‘Last year Symmons Plains was one of three circuits (Indy, Sandown) where we struggled for pace, this year we have been strong at two of the three so I am confident we will have a better run than last year,’ said Whincup.

‘The championship is a long way from gone and everybody is starting to make mistakes. None of the championship contenders have had the perfect report card over the past couple of rounds.’

James Courtney - #4 Jeld-Wen Motorsport Ford Falcon
‘We were actually pretty fast at Symmons Plains last year but our results didn't show our speed,’ said Courtney.

‘With SBR achieving podium finishes at each of the last three rounds, we could be on for a good result this weekend.

‘The goal for the end of the year is to get onto that top step. We are not in the title hunt so race victories are what we are after.

‘The Jeld-Wen Falcon is really making progress at the moment; it's getting better and better each round and with some small tweaks here and there, there are more improvements to come.’

2007 V8 Supercar Championship Series Round Winners
Rd 1 - Adelaide, SA - Todd Kelly (Holden)
Rd 2 - Perth, WA - Garth Tander (Holden)
Rd 3 - Pukekohe, NZ - Rick Kelly (Holden)
Rd 4 - Winton, Vic - Jamie Whincup (Ford)
Rd 5 - Eastern Creek, NSW - Mark Skaife (Holden)
Rd 6 - Darwin, NT - Craig Lowndes (Ford)
Rd 7 - Ipswich, QLD - Garth Tander (Holden)
Rd 8 ˜ Oran Park, NSW ˜ Lee Holdsworth (Holden)
Rd 9 ˜ Sandown, Vic ˜ Craig Lowndes/Jamie Whincup (Ford)
Rd 10 ˜ Bathurst, NSW ˜ Craig Lowndes/Jamie Whincup (Ford)
Rd 11 ˜ Gold Coast, QLD ˜ Garth Tander (Holden)
Rd 12 ˜ Bahrain, UAE ˜ Mark Winterbottom (Ford)

2007 V8 SUPERCAR CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES
Championship Standings (Top 40 drivers)˜ After Round 12 of 14
1. Garth Tander 530
2. Craig Lowndes 510
3. Jamie Whincup 501
4. Rick Kelly 496
5. MarkWinterbottom 336
6. Todd Kelly 330
7. Steven Richards 311
8. James Courtney 309
9. Russell Ingall 297
10. Will Davison 299
11. Mark Skaife 294
12. Steven Johnson 265
13. Greg Murphy 230
14. Jason Richards 199
15. Lee Holdsworth 180
16. Dean Canto 109
17. Jason Bargwanna 109
18. Max Wilson 108
19. Steve Owen 101
20. Paul Radisich 96
21. Paul Dumbrell 65
22. Owen Kelly 63
23. Richard Lyons 63
24. Allan Simonsen 63
25. David Besnard 60
26. Paul Morris 60
27. Jason Bright 60
28. Tony D'Alberto 55
29. Paul Weel 54
30. John Bowe 47
31. Craig Baird 45
32. Nathan Pretty 45
33. Matthew Halliday 42
34. Luke Youlden 33
35. Cameron McConville 30
36. Alex Davison 30
37. Andrew Thompson 30
38. Glenn Seton 30
39. Shane Price 30
40. Cameron McLean 27

V8 Supercar Team's Championship Standings
1. Team Vodafone 1137
2. Toll HSV Dealer Team 1131
3. Ford Performance Racing 752
4. Holden Racing Team 711
5. Stone Brothers Racing 699
6. Jim Beam Racing 622
7. Tasman Motorsport 429
8. Garry Rogers Motorsport 343
9. WPS/WOW Racing 229
10. Autobarn Racing 155
11. Supercheap Auto Racing 149
12. Team Sirromet Wines 74
13. Glenfords Racing 71
14. Fujitsu Racing 57
15. Team Kiwi Racing 51
16. Jack Daniel's Racing 36
17. Team BOC 31