Asian Motor Sports

<a href=”Ford Performance Racing has confirmed the signing of V8 Supercar driver Mark Winterbottom for a further three years.”>Ford Performance Racing has confirmed the signing of V8 Supercar driver Mark Winterbottom for a further three years.

Winterbottom, the 2008 V8 Supercar drivers championship runner-up, will now stay at the Ford factory team until the end of the 2013 championship.

The move comes despite a disappointing year for the FPR team in 2009, when Winterbottom failed to win a race until the SuperGP event on the Gold Coast in October and teammate Steven Richards could only manage two podiums.

Winterbottom performed well enough in the season-ending Sydney 500 to secure fifth place in the drivers championship, but will be aiming for a much improved year in 2010.

The new deal will ensure seven years with FPR for Winterbottom and he said that continuity would stand him in good stead.

“It’s great to continue the association with Ford, I see myself as a very loyal driver and Ford provided me the opportunity when I was in karting so it is great to repay that faith in the brand by continuing the association,” Winterbottom said.

“The new agreement will take it to seven years with Ford Performance Racing, it is nice to be with the same team for such a long period of time.”

Winterbottom has also teamed up with engineer Campbell Little for the 2010 campaign, which starts in Abu Dhabi next month.

Little helped Winterbottom to the 2003 development series championship, as well as guiding Marcos Ambrose, Russell Ingall and Jamie Whincup to V8 Supercar titles.

Winterbottom will head to the Middle East for a four-day visit to the Yas Marina Circuit with event organisers, and will hold his first practice session of the year at Victoria’s Winton circuit on February 8.