Mark Winterbottom has put his foot down at Ford Performance Racing and wants his fans to come up with the name for his new Orrcon Steel FPR Falcon – and he along with Orrcon Steel will put a lucky fan in pole position at the Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000.

“Since Will’s car was launched as Kate, the guys have been calling my new Orrcon Steel FPR Falcon ‘Pippa’,” Winterbottom said.

“There’s no denying the new car has a neat back end, but I think my fans can do better and come up with something more creative before Bathurst.

“We need to have something that reflects Orrcon Steel’s strength, power and innovative nature – and also the fact that Orrcon Steel is celebrating it’s 10th year of V8 Supercars.

“That’s why I’ve over-ruled the team, taken control and asked the fans to put on their thinking caps and come up with a name.”

To enter the competition, Frosty is asking fans to think of a name that takes into account Orrcon Steel and then enter via the Orrcon Steel Racing website – www.orrconsteelracing.com.

The entry deemed the most creative by Winterbottom and the Ford Performance Racing team will win the following:

• A double paddock pass to the Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000, thanks to Orrcon Steel
• An exclusive tour of the Orrcon Steel Racing Ford Performance Racing garage
• A meet & greet with Mark Winterbottom and Steven Richards
• Their name on the car for the Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000
• The opportunity to join the Orrcon Steel FPR Falcon on the grid prior to the start of the race
• Two tickets to the Orrcon Steel Racing dinner with the stars on the Saturday evening prior to the Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000

“Our fans are so passionate about what we do, it’s awesome we can offer this to them,” said Winterbottom. “I want everyone to watch our car this weekend, get their ideas together and send them in.We want to see some out there ideas.

“This car is pretty special – 2011 is Orrcon Steel’s 10th anniversary of being involved in V8 Supercars, this will be the last car Ford Performance Racing builds before the Car of the Future – so it’s important that we name it something cool – Pippa just didn’t cut it for me.”

This weekend the Orrcon Steel Ford Performance Racing team launch the brand new car at the L&H 500, Phillip Island.

The team have clad the machine – FPR-1111 – in a special black livery to commemorate the launch of FPV’s newest vehicle – the limited edition GT Black, of which only 125 examples have been manufactured.

Mark Winterbottom teams up with former full-time Ford Performance Racing pilot, Steve Richards in the #5 Orrcon Steel FPR Falcon for the endurance races, whilst Will Davison has FPR stalwart, Luke Youlden slotted in beside him for Phillip Island and Bathurst.

On track – things have started encouragingly for the team. Most teams have utilised fresh hard Dunlops during practice at some point today.

The Orrcon Steel-backed FPR team have elected to keep both its cars on old tyres for today’s running, preferring to save the new rubber until tomorrow’s final practice sessions, 30 minute qualifying session and two qualifying races.

The only hiccough throughout the day has been Mark Winterbottom’s meeting with the Phillip Island wildlife this afternoon.

Winterbottom collected a lost rabbit during final practice, leaving both he and Steve Richards on the sidelines for the remainder of the session.

The car was back underway for meeting rides less than an hour later.

Both cars have been hovering around the top 10, with the #6 Trading Post FPR Falcon of Davison/Youlden finishing practice one in sixth and the final practice session in ninth.

“We didn’t get a chance to put new tyres on at the end as we hit a rabbit which ran across the track in front of me at Turn 3,” Winterbottom said after practice. “It stopped at the side of the track and then tried to play chicken with me and obviously lost.

“It hit the middle of the radiator and that put the oil pressure through the roof and I had to stop out on track which meant we didn’t get to do our green tyre run at the end.

“We just need to tidy the car up a little to improve it. The pace I was doing on worn tyres was good and as we didn’t use as many tyres today we have more for tomorrow which is when it counts so we’ll try and put it in a good position for qualifying.”

Action will fire back into life tomorrow morning at the Island – with another two practice sessions, qualifying and the two 14 lap races. The combination of results from both A and B drivers will determine the grid for Sunday’s gruelling L&H 500.

TEAM STEEL DRIVER STATS

MARK WINTERBOTTOM – #5 Orrcon Steel FPR Falcon
Current Championship Position: 6th, 1321 points (-574 from leader)
2010 Saturday Qualifying 2: 5th
2010 Saturday Qualifying Race 2: 5th
2010 Sunday Race: 2nd
Best Phillip Island Qualifying: 1st – 2009 (L&H500)
Best Phillip Island Race Result: 1st – Race 3, 2006 (regular round)

WILL DAVISON – #6 Trading Post FPR Falcon
Current Championship Position: 8th, 1302 points (-593 from leader)
2010 Saturday Qualifying 2: 6th
2010 Saturday Qualifying Race 2: 6th
2010 Sunday Race: 28th
Best Phillip Island Qualifying: 3rd – 2009 (L&H500)
Best Phillip Island Race Result: 1st – 2009 (L&H500)

V8 Supercars Championship – After 8 of 14 events

1. Jamie Whincup 1895 points
2. Craig Lowndes 1797 points
3. Shane Van Gisbergen 1502 points
4. Rick Kelly 1418 points
5. Steven Johnson 1345 points
6. Mark Winterbottom 1321 points
7. Garth Tander 1321 points
8. Will Davison 1302 points
9. Alex Davison 1255 points
10. Lee Holdsworth 1140 points

WEEKEND SCHEDULE
The times below are in Australian Eastern Standard Time

Saturday, September 17:
Practice 4: 9:10am – 9:50am
Practice 5: 10:05am – 10:45am
Qualifying 1: 11:25pm – 11:45pm
Qualifying 2: 12:05pm – 12:25pm
Qualifying Race 1: 2:35pm – 2:55pm
Qualifying Race 2: 4:35pm – 4:55pm

Sunday, September 18:
Warm Up: 10:30am – 10:50am
Race: 1:35pm – 5:15pm

TELEVISION SCHEDULE
Times subject to amendment, please check local guides:

SEVEN NETWORK

Saturday, September 17:
3.00pm – 5.30pm Qualifying & Raceday Xtra (All Markets)

Sunday, September 18
12:00pm – 5.30pm Race 19 (Australian Eastern Standard Time – NOTE: Race is Live in all markets – check local guides)

RACE REPLAYS

SPEEDTV

Sunday, September 18
9:30pm – 1:00am: Race 19

Monday, September 19
9:30am – 1:00pm: Race 19

Tuesday, September 20
8:00pm – 11:30pm: Race 19

ORRCON STEEL RACING VIDEO PREVIEW – CLICK THROUGH TO VIEW

STAY UP TO DATE WITH ORRCON STEEL RACING:
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TWITTER:twitter.com/OrrconRacing

*NB: Travel and accommodation are at winner’s cost.