Steve Ellery confirmed with Triple 888

[motorsportnerd]

Steve Ellery has been confirmed as Craig Lownde's teammate at Triple 888 for the 2005 Australian V8 Supercar Championship.
According to this week's issue of Motorsport News, Ellery has been signed for two years.
This signing means that Steve Ellery Racing faces "an uncertain future... SER has a three year deal to run the Kanga Loaders entry in the feeder V8 series and may even expand to a second entry, depending on current negotiations. In the meantime, team principal Bruce Ellery says that the team is still pushing ahead with its intent to run in the main series next season. "We are looking for a driver who can assist us", he said. "We feel that the team has done a good job this season and if we can get the right budget, we would love to continue".

Meanwhile, former Triple 888 driver Max Wilson slammed his former employers for not even having the decency to inform him personally. His options for a drive next year appear limited, but he is still keen to run in the enduros.

Now, two thoughts.
The obvious is that Max Wilson could end up driving with Steve Ellery Racing in the seat vacated by Steve Ellery - an effective seat swap.
Second, given Triple 888's propensity to blame its drivers for lack of performance, will Lowndes and Ellery actually get to see out their contracts?

[henk4]

may I add a third thought for the really uninformed?

What series are we talking about? V8 Supercars?

[motorsportnerd]

Yes, we are. Edits have been made. I forget that not everyone follows Australian motorsport religiously. Especially as some Brits may have thought I was referring to the BTCC works Vauxhall team run by the same Triple 888.

[fpv_gtho]

Originally Posted by motorsportnerd

Second, given Triple 888's propensity to blame its drivers for lack of performance, will Lowndes and Ellery actually get to see out their contracts?

could be interesting, no doubt Lowndes will have the speed but the SBR engines could change what they consider acceptable performance etc.

[henk4]

Originally Posted by motorsportnerd

Especially as some Brits may have thought I was referring to the BTCC works Vauxhall team run by the same Triple 888.

Thank you, but i was also unaware of the above, so the confusion wasn't that big

[charged]

Hope sbr build good engines for 888 and I hope they have cured their front suspension failure.I think the way fpv are going Lowndesy should have stayed,its done and dusted now though

[fpv_gtho]

well theyve had 1 engine failure in the past 2 years in which theyve been the dominant force in the category, and that was Ambrose's 3rd race engine failure at Symmons Plains, so i think that speaks spades about the engine reliability. as far as performance, all people seemed to be talking about at Bathurst was how the SBR cars powered up Mountain Straight and how early they got on the limiter down Conrod, so theyve got the power as well.

[SlickHolden]

My bro said the HRT cars get on the rev limiter down conrod for a good 2-4 sec's also.

[fpv_gtho]

theyre using the Aurora Holden Motorsport engine as well, i think its only the Perkins cars and Team Dynamik/Dodo racing that also use them. Next year i think they cant use the Chev engines anymore but i could be wrong. i know for sure once they switch from the Chev engine to the Aurora they cant switch back though

[charged]

Originally Posted by fpv_gtho

theyre using the Aurora Holden Motorsport engine as well, i think its only the Perkins cars and Team Dynamik/Dodo racing that also use them. Next year i think they cant use the Chev engines anymore but i could be wrong. i know for sure once they switch from the Chev engine to the Aurora they cant switch back though

I remember last year at Bathurst Murfh had the first ine in his car,it was a jet down conrod and every bloody where else

[fpv_gtho]

yeah that was a special year for him, he won again this year and considering the detuning of the cars engines, he still pretty much matched last years times. i guess it just wasnt so special this year cause it had been seen the year before

[Falcon500]

First year in about 4 years that the lap times havent fallen....the conditions wernt so great this year....but theres always next year...

[fpv_gtho]

well they put the minimum weight for the engine's bottom end in and GRM already got cauht out and docked 75 points, they reckoned that took 1-2 seconds off the lap times