Hidden Valley: WPS Racing preview

WPS AIMING HIGH AT HIDDEN VALLEY

As the V8 Supercar Championship nears the half way mark WPS Racing is looking to continue its push towards the front of the field during this weekend's round at Hidden Valley Raceway in Darwin.

Both team drivers, Max Wilson and Jason Bargwanna, have shown improving speed aboard their WPS Racing Falcons throughout the opening four rounds with Wilson recording a pair of top ten results.

If not for several incidents which hampered the team's performance both drivers could very well be battling for a position inside the top ten in the championship, a spot they're aiming towards in 2006.

"The team has done a good job of constantly improving the setup of the cars and I think we've shown that when we don't have any problems both Bargs (Jason Bargwanna) and I can mix it with the guys inside the top ten," said Wilson.

"It's vital that we continue to finish each race and consistently rack up the points towards the championship. I achieved that objective in Winton and finished inside the top ten for the round, hopefully this trend can continue in Darwin."

Bargwanna has finished inside the top ten in 10 races since making his debut at the 2.9 kilometre Hidden Valley circuit in 1998. In the inaugural year of the Darwin round Bargwanna came within metres of claiming the victory by finishing a close second to eventual winner Russell Ingall.

"Darwin has always been a round that I enjoy going to. It really seems to have a relaxed feel about the place and it's great to get some warmth into your body away from the cold winter mornings that we have down here in Melbourne," said Bargwanna.

"I've always had a pretty good run up there with numerous top ten finishes and also a spot on the podium. I think we'll have some good car speed and if I can just keep out of any incidents a result inside the top ten for should be there for the taking this weekend."

WPS Racing Team Principal Mark Larkham believes the team has continually made progress during the opening four rounds and is confident of continuing this progression this weekend in Darwin.

"I've been looking forward to the latter part of the season, which in my mind effectively starts around Darwin, as I believe that we'll start heading to some of the circuits that we as a team and drivers really warm do. In this thought I include such tracks as Darwin, Sandown, Bathurst, Indy and Phillip Island," said Larkham.

"We have a good engine package which should suit the long straight and our chassis set up should be very competitive this weekend."

Round five of the V8 Supercar Championship will fire into action at Hidden Valley Raceway in Darwin with practice on Friday afternoon. Qualifying and the opening 34-lap race will be contested on Saturday. The round will be highlighted with a pair of 48-lap feature races on Sunday, the first of which will be started in a reverse order of the finishing positions from Saturday's race.

-wps-