Next Monday 30th January Ford Performance Racing, Orrcon Steel #5 will create history when Frosty drives the first ever V8 Supercar on ice! The encounter with the ice is designed to help celebrate the launch of our all new 2012 livery where Frosty will be joined by Olympic gold medalist Steven Bradbury.

There will also be a major announcement made in conjunction with the night so stay tuned to your emails Tuesday morning to be the first to read the exciting news!

But for now, here is a little taste of Orrcon Steel’s V8 Supercar which Frosty will pilot in the 2012 Championship.

V8 SUPERCARS SEASON SET TO LAUNCH ON 11TH

All 28 V8 Supercars will launch the 2012 International V8 Supercar Championship at Sandown Raceway next month on Saturday February 11th.

The launch runs in conjunction with a full test day, compulsory to all teams, and will serve as a crucial shakedown for both FPR cars ahead of the opening round of the Championship – Clipsal 500 – from March 1-4.

The event is FREE to the public with plenty of activities for all ages on the day, so if you’re in Melbourne, head on down and say hi to the Orrcon Steel Racing team.

WALKING AROUND ON A BROKEN LEG

As most of your are aware Frosty is recovering from a broken tibia sustained over the Christmas break while water skiing.

His recovery is going very well and it looks like he will be fit for the test day on the 11th of February. However a decision on this will be made by Frosty’s specialist the day before the test.

2011 CHAMPIONSHIP POSITIONS
1 #88 Jamie Whincup 3168
2 #888 Craig Lowndes 3133
3 #5 Mark Winterbottom 2710
4 #9 Shane van Gisbergen 2672
5 #2 Garth Tander 2574
6 #15 Rick Kelly 2358
7 #6 Will Davison 2345
8 #33 Lee Holdsworth 1920
9 #47 Tim Slade 1904
10 #1 James Courtney 1869

Enter the draw for your chance to meet Frosty at the official 2012 livery launch!

Want to win the chance to be the first eyes that see Frosty’s 2012 Orrcon Steel Racing livery that will contest this year’s V8 Supercar Championship?

Speedcafe.com and our good friends at Orrcon Steel are giving you the chance to WIN one of two double passes to the official unveiling of Frosty’s new livery at the Ice House in Melbourne on Monday January 30th at 7.30pm!

Not only will you and your guest be the first to see the brand-new 2012 livery, you’ll also get to hangout with Frosty and his good buddy, Olympic Gold Medalist Steve Bradbury at the official launch after party!

You’ll be treated to food, drinks and an exclusive, special announcement from the team!

Plus, the Ice House is basically a big refrigerator so each winner will also score themselves a Castrol EDGE hoodie signed by Frosty!

Entering is simple. Sign-up to the Speedcafe.com newsletter here for your daily racing fix and you automatically go in the draw to win one of two double passes to the exciting launch of Frosty’s 2012 V8 Supercar!

CLICK HERE TO ENTER

So guys do you want to start with the good news or the bad news?

The bad news, Orrcon Steel Racing’s Mark Winterbottom is recovering from a broken tibia sustained over the Christmas break while water skiing!

“I asked for a break over Christmas but this wasn’t the kind I was after,” commented Winterbottom.

“I’m currently training with the Essendon Football Club rehab team and guru trainer Paul Turk and I’ll be 100% for Clipsal.”

Winterbottom broke the base of his left tibia – near his ankle joint – while water skiing two days  before New Years Eve.

With assistance from V8 Supercars Medical Delegate, Dr Carl Le, he was successfully operated on and had two screws inserted into the break.

“Dr Carl Le was a huge help and put me onto a great surgeon. My recovery is going really well. The cast is off and I can already put weight on it.”

The good news is the early diagnostic suggests Frosty will make a full recovery in time for the February 11 test day at Sandown Raceway.

“As the break is on my left leg I am not really worried. I will easily be fit for Clipsal which is
the main thing. I am seeing the surgeon a few days before the test day so he can evaluate my
recovery but at this stage I plan to drive the car as scheduled.”

2012 is set to be another huge year for Orrcon Steel Racing with plenty of exciting new ventures on the horizon and stay tuned for some major announcements early in the year.

Orrcon Steel wishes Frosty a full and speedy recovery as he heads to round one of the Championship, the Clipsal 500, coming off the back of victory from last month’s Sydney Telstra 500.

FPR tested a number of drivers during the end of year test at Winton

With Mark Winterbottom taking a well-earned break post the final event of the year, most of the running was conducted by Will Davison in the #6 Tradingpost FPR Falcon, whilst the reins of the #5 Orrcon Steel FPR Falcon were taken by enduro partner, Steve Richards – along with John McIntyre – who will partner Davison next year (see story below).

Davison concentrated on soft tyre running and the team tested a number of development compeonents – all of which seemed to have a positive effect.

“Each of the things we tried on the car appeared to be an improvement,” Davison said. “The car was fast and enjoyable to drive – the team has made solid steps forward and – concentrating on soft tyre running – you could really feel the difference.”

Will Davison’s cousin, James Davison had his first taste of V8 Supercars yesterday. He has been racing in America in the Indy Lights Championship and tested an IndyCar recently with Andretti Autosport. He is looking towards a career in the IZOD IndyCar Series – should that not materialise, he is considering a switch to the Fujitsu V8 Supercar Development Series.

The other driver to step into a factory Falcon was Fujitsu Series regular, Tim Blanchard.

Team Principal, Tim Edwards walked away happy with the work conducted at Winton and says the team is now ready for a well-earned break.

“It was a good opportunity to give some young guys a go and especially Chaz and Tim – who’ve never used the V8 Supercars soft Dunlop,” said Edwards. “They were particularly impressed by the additional grip it afforded them.

“The development parts we were able to run with the more experienced drivers at the helm and Will did plenty of laps.

“Each one of the young guys we gave a run to all assisted us in their own way given their varying levels of experience and it was great to have John join the team for the first time.

“The team will strip the cars back at base and then have a few weeks off over Christmas and the New Year.”

FPR have swooped and signed John McIntyre to Will Davison's #6 for the 2012 enduros

The New Zealander – who switches Ford camps from Stone Brothers – is a triple and reigning New Zealand V8 Touring Cars Champion and is very highly rated.

McIntyre became acquainted with his new blue and orange car at Winton Motor Raceway yesterday in FPR’s final test of the year.

He also drove the Orrcon Steel #5 and completed laps in FPR’s Development Series TEAM NAVY machine.

PLENTY OF OFF-TRACK ACTION POST SYDNEY
Since Mark Winterbottom’s outstanding victory on the streets of Sydney, the Orrcon Steel-backed FPR team haven’t been idle.

Immediately after Sydney, the cars were stripped and then prepared for the test that took place yesterday at Winton.

Operating four cars in Sydney (the #5 and #6 Orrcon Steel-backed FPR Falcons, The Bottle-O RNR #55 Falcon and the TEAM NAVY/Factory Enterprises Development Series FPR Falcon) ensured that it was all hands on deck.

In a V8 Supercars silly season that seems to have numerous shots still to fire – FPR is one of those at the centre of 2012 discussions.

It has emerged there is potential that FPR’s Development Series program may ramp up to a main series program as early as the new season, which officially begins in February with the open Sandown test. There are a number of Racing Entitlements Contracts (the franchises needed to play in the V8 Supercars Championship Series) that could be up for grabs.

If this doesn’t happen, FPR is likely to continue with it’s three car program and run a fourth car in the Development Series.

Although most of the country is winding down for Christmas – in V8 Supercar land, it seems like it’s going to be a long, hot summer for many!

NEARLY HAD A NASCAR STAR!
The #5 Orrcon Steel FPR Team almost had a secret visitor to the cockpit yesterday in Australia’s NASCAR Sprint Cup star, Marcos Ambrose.

Ambrose – enjoying his American winter break in Australia – had been offered the chance to jump aboard Frosty’s machine in a top secret test. It would have been the first time the Sprint Cup winner would have been in a V8 Supercar since deciding on the American route some years ago.

As late as Friday last week, negotiations were taking place with Ambrose to be part of the team’s final test day, instead he elected to remain in Hobart with his wife and children and enjoy the down time in Australia.