Ipswich: Stone Brothers Racing preview

It is "now Or never" for Stone Brothers Racing.

Stone Brothers Racing's Marcos Ambrose and David Besnard are ready to answer the prayers of Ford fans and end the Holden domination of the V8 Supercar Championship Series in the VIP Petfoods Queensland 500 at Queensland Raceway this weekend.

Both drivers have declared this weekend as "now or never" for the Ford camp as they endeavour to give the Blue Oval brigade their first round win since last year's 500km endurance event.

Ambrose is the leading Ford driver in the series in fifth place in his Pirtek Falcon, while Besnard sits ninth in his Caltex-Havoline Ford having made up more ground than anyone in the champion since the opening double points race in Adelaide back in March.

SBR, based at Yatala, use Queensland Raceway as its regular testing venue and dominated qualifying last year with Ambrose and Besnard filling the front row of the grid.

Ambrose has recovered from a strained AC Shoulder joint after skiing mishap last month and is determined to apply as much pressure as possible to the Holden Racing Team which has won all eight previous rounds this year.

"If we cannot give it a decent shake this weekend, then we never will," said Ambrose.

"We have had some strong recent results, we took pole last year, we have a more favourable pit stop scenario and I have a good co-driver.

"Above all that we use Queensland Raceway as our test track."

Ambrose will share his car with regular Gold Coast-Ford driver Paul Weel, who is keen to score his first win in the V8 Supercar ranks.

Besnard will be a big chance in the race in the Caltex-Havoline Ford he will share with V8 Supercar "refugee" Simon Wills.

Wills walked out on Briggs Motorsport last month and his availability came at a perfect time for SBR, who will be without regular co-driver Wayne Gardner this weekend due to commitments in the Japanese GT 500 Championship.

"Everything has been very positive for us in the lead up to this weekend and I can confident we can produce a big result," said Besnard.

"Simon (Wills) was consistently quick in testing last week and knows what he has to do.

"There is no reason why we cannot stick the car on the front row and go on with the job from there.

"500kms is a long way, but I think we are well prepared and will have the speed."

This will be the team's last hit out before heading to Bathurst's Mt Panorama for the Bob Jane T-Marts 1000 on October 10-13.

-SBR-