The latest news of V8's is that SBR will supply their engines to tripple 8, and will be in the cars at the start of 2005 Melbourne GP. This means that Lowndes will have the grunt to be a Championship contender next year, which he deserves.

THIS IS A GOOD MOVE BY FORD, SBR AND TRIPPLE 8.

Stone Brothers Racing and Triple Eight sign engine deal

Release Date: 21/11/2004

V8 Supercar Champions Stone Brothers Racing is set to expand its engine supply business by establishing an alliance with the Brisbane-based Triple Eight Race Engineering operation for four years from 2005.

Earlier this year SBR signed a two-year deal to supply engines to Larkham Motor Sport and the result has seen LMS’s two-car Orrcon Racing team take the next leap in performance and results.

The new deal means that Craig Lowndes will make his debut in a Betta Electrical Falcon with SBR-supplied power plants in next year’s 13-round V8 Supercar Championship Series.

The program is designed to reduce the escalating expense of V8 Supercar racing caused through the seriously increasing costs associated with engine and car development, according to SBR co-owner, Ross Stone.

“A lot of thought has to be put into arrangements like this, but I think an expansion of our engine development business with Triple Eight makes sense,” said Stone.

“The sport is becoming more and more expensive and partnerships like this are going to be crucial to the future success of everyone involved.

“This deal has come with the encouragement of Ford and will benefit, Triple Eight, SBR and Larkham Motor Sport’s Orrcon Racing.”

Triple Eight Race Engineering’s Director/Manager, Roland Dane, believes the new arrangement will be a win-win for everyone involved.

“There is no doubt that SBR has been the benchmark in this series for the past couple of years and if we were ever going to come to an arrangement like this, then SBR were the obvious choice as partners,” said Dane.

“Like us, SBR is in the business of motor racing to win. Ross and Jimmy Stone have a tremendous reputation as fair and ethical competitors and that is also an obvious consideration when structuring such an arrangement.

“The sport of V8 Supercar racing is not getting any cheaper and it makes no sense for teams to be duplicating very expensive development programs across a whole range of areas.

“We have been working with SBR and Ford for sometime and I am glad we have come to, what I am sure will be win-win situation for everyone involved.”

The new arrangement is subject to approval by TEGA (TouringCar Entrants Group Australia) through the normal process.

Upon approval Team Betta Electrical will compete with SBR-prepared engines for the first time in the V8 Supercar support program at the Foster’s Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne on March 4-6, 2005.

Finally Ford and the rest of the teams are getting their together.

I've being saying this on the forum for some time now. If they all pool their engine development money together and develop one engine platform it has to be a win win for all concerned.

Well Done Ford & SBR and all the teams involved.

macka

A giant leap forward

I wonder if Campbell Little had anything to do with this

Still think Lowndes and Ambrose at SBR would be the ultimate though

A giant leap forward

I wonder if Campbell Little had anything to do with this

Still think  Lowndes and Ambrose at SBR would be the ultimate though

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

He is basically driving one now.

I'd hazard a guess to say that this was thedeal clincher and why he decided to join Triple 8 and leave FPR. :lol:

good choice I'd say

macka

Anything that brings more of the blue ovals to the top is a step forward

can they match their chassis's to the engines though, that's the question........many of their failures the last year have been engine related, with the only other problem springing to mind is the front suspension at bathurst. after the performance boost Orrcon got with the SBR engines, hopefully we'll see 888 consistently in the top 5

Is'nt 888 engineer, the ex SBR engineer. If so he should have a pretty good idea of how to match up the chassis.

macka

Looks like I can a bit more celebrating at the end of each round next year.

Better get a loan for the alcohol supply.

Ken