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The Pirtek Rally Team is heading
into the final stretch as it prepares
for the opening round of the NEC
Australian Rally Championship, the
Coates Rally Queensland. With just
six weeks to the Sunshine Coast
event, the Pirtek Rally Team crew
is working around the clock to ensure
two Super 2000 Ford Fiestas will
be at the starting line at Coolum
on Friday 30 March. On the workshop
floor the first Fiesta is being
pieced together while the second
shell is going through the final
fabrication updates.
In the UK, Mountune are completing
the engine program, while Sadev
are finalising the transmission
package in France. Engine Manager
Gavin Selth will head to the UK
this next week to oversee the delivery
of the engines. "It's been an
extremely busy period over the last
three months," said Chief Engineer
Glenn Rees.
"We
have had deadlines to meet all the
way along. Thanks to outstanding
efforts from our crew as well as
our suppliers, everything is tracking
well.
"It must be remembered that we are
the first Ford team in the world
to undertake the Super 2000 exercise.
This has required a massive commitment
from everyone involved in the program.
"We still have a lot on our plate,
but we are doing everything in our
power to get two cars to the first
event in Queensland"
Both Michael Guest and Darren Windus
were at the team base in Melbourne
recently for seat fittings and team
meetings.
"Darren and I were very impressed
with what the team has done so far,"
said Michael Guest.
"I'm based in Newcastle and Darren
in Perth, and it had been eight
weeks since our last visit. To see
the progress and actually sit in
a car was very exciting.
"The good thing with the visit was
that we didn't have to make too
many adjustments. The driving position
was pretty much spot-on.
"As a driver it makes you feel a
whole lot more comfortable when
everything is tracking well."
For Darren Windus the opportunity
to drive for a fully professional
team has allowed him to concentrate
on other areas of preparation for
the season ahead.
"I've been training very hard, especially
cycling," said Windus.
"The team asked me to supply measurements
for my driving suit and I was pleasantly
surprised to be measured by a tailor!
"Over the past few years I've been
so busy with the actual car and
team preparation side that I have
not been able to get myself in the
very best physical condition. I
don't want to sound like one of
those weight loss commercials, but
I do feel like a new me.
"Fitness is critical in getting
those extra tenths of a second out
of the car, plus feeling strong
throughout the entire event."
With announcements in the past few
weeks on television and marketing
improvements for the NEC Australian
Rally Championship, the Pirtek Rally
Team is looking forward to showcasing
itself to a wider audience.
"The championship has signed a three-year
extension with Network Ten, as well
a deal to broadcast on Fox Sports,"
said Commercial Manager Ben Beazley.
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