V8SDS: Adam Macrow Bathurst preview

Macrow looks to maintain unblemished record at Bathurst

This weekend, Howard Racing's Adam Macrow will be striving to uphold his flawless record in the 2006 Fujitsu V8 Supercar Series when he heads to Mount Panorama for the penultimate round of the Development Series.

Macrow has looked untouchable in the 2006 Fujitsu V8 Supercar Championship and hard work and dedication from himself and the Howard Racing team has delivered him victory in each round of the series contested this year.

The Gold Coast-based driver will be looking to take his run to six wins in a single season at Mount Panorama, which will make him the only driver in the history of the Development Series to have such an obvious stranglehold on his competition.

As a result of this untarnished record, Macrow has a 140 point lead on his nearest rival Shane Price whose series points account balance is 1364.

According to Macrow, the two races at Mount Panorama which constitute the sixth round of the 2006 Fujitsu V8 Supercar Series will be significant for him and his pursuit of this year's series title.

"Every race is critical from now until the end of the championship," Macrow said, "And, Bathurst certainly won't be any different. Reliability is extremely important at Mount Panorama and that is something which has been one of the team's strengths throughout this year."

Within the field of drivers competing in the Bathurst round of the series, at just 27-years-old Macrow can be considered a Mount Panorama veteran with 2006 marking his eighth year of competing at Mount Panorama.

Last year, Mount Panorama brought great success to Macrow when he finished inside the top three with Steven Ellery in the Super Cheap Auto Bathurst 1000. He was placed fourth in the single Development Series race contested at the infamous circuit.

"I'm lucky enough to have eight years of Bathurst experience under my belt. Where as Shane [Price] and some of the other younger competitors they have only raced there once or twice," Macrow added.

"Bathurst is a place that has never really been daunting to me, like it or not, it is just a matter of adapting to the circuit and making the most of your time there."

Team Principal, Mark Howard, will go to Bathurst with renewed confidence following a strong result at Mallala which has given him a new outlook on a season which could only be described as challenging.

"The top fourteen result recorded at Mallala a few weeks ago has really provided me with the additional motivation to finish the season on a high," Howard stated.

"I have been training extremely hard over the last few weeks as Bathurst is certainly a round which is physically demanding. Overall, I really feel the best I have in a very long time."

Macrow and Howard will take to the Mount Panorama circuit at 9.10am on Thursday 5 October for the first practice session of the meeting. An additional practice session will be held at 2.30pm the same day.

At 8am on Friday 6 October the drivers will take to the track in an effort to record the fastest time for qualifying. Race one will be at 12.40pm the same day with the final race to be contested from 1.45pm on Saturday 7 October. The race will be broadcast on Network Ten.

-credit: bg