Sandown: WPS/WOW Racing car eight preview

WILSON AND CARUSO TO DEBUT BRAND NEW WOW RACING FALCON AT SANDOWN

Max Wilson and Michael Caruso will debut a brand new #8 WOW Racing BF Falcon at the Just Car Insurance 500 at Sandown International Raceway in Melbourne, Victoria this weekend.

The duo tested the new car, built by WPS/WOW Racing at its Gold Coast workshop, at Queensland Raceway last Thursday (September 6) at the team's final test day before the first endurance event of the 2007 V8 Supercar Championship Series at Sandown on September 14-16.

Both Wilson and Caruso reported good signs from the new WOW machine. While wet weather prevented the team from pushing for speed and lap times, the feedback from drivers and engineers was all positive, giving the WPS/WOW Racing a positive outlook on this weekend's race.

The car features new developments from WPS/WOW Racing Technical Director and renowned touring car engineer Paul Ceprnich, who joined the team at the beginning of the 2007 season.

Together with the continued engine development from WPS/WOW Racing engine builder Craig Hasted and his team, who are respected as one of the strongest engine building teams in Australia, WPS/WOW Racing continues to build upon a foundation for success.

WPS/WOW Racing will enter this year's endurance races with a strong line-up of drivers, all of which participated in Thursday's test at Queensland Raceway and all four participating in V8 Supercar racing this season.

Wilson will suit up with Caruso in the #8 WOW Racing Falcon, while Jason Bargwanna and Grant Denyer will drive the #10 WPS Racing Falcon.

It will be a big Sandown 500 debut for Caruso, who will enter his first Sandown endurance event in a brand new car in only his second main series V8 Supercar start.

Caruso currently lies second in the second-tier Fujitsu V8 Supercar Series, where he has two rounds wins from five events this season.

The Sandown 500 was a standout event for WPS/WOW Racing last season. Wilson qualified in an outstanding fourth position at the Melbourne venue last season and went on to finish 11th, while team-mate Bargwanna joined the Brazilian in the top five in qualifying, starting from fifth and finishing seventh.

WHAT THEY HAD TO SAY --

Max Wilson -- #8 WOW Racing Falcon

"There is a lot of potential in our new car and I think that we can unlock more speed out of it over the next two endurance races at Sandown and Bathurst," said Wilson.

"I have to mention the team's efforts in preparing this car for Sandown. A lot of hard work goes into getting a brand new car ready between rounds but the whole crew has been really excited and working hard to get the job done.

"Our test day last Thursday was pretty much a shakedown, as the weather was rainy so track conditions did not allow us to stretch the new car's legs at all.

"We ran through the car and made sure everything was in order. As we get to know the new WOW car I think we can definitely get an improvement in speed and I think that over the course of the next two races we should see that.

"Our cars have been steadily improving all year and this new WOW car is the next step in our team's development.

"Sandown was a good round for us last year and it's a circuit where we have the potential to do well because we have such great engines from Craig Hasted and all his guys.

"Paul Ceprnich and our engineers have been getting our cars faster and faster all year and our pit stops have been great over the last couple of rounds, so I think we have the potential for a good weekend at Sandown."

Michael Caruso -- #8 WOW Racing Falcon

"It's going to be a pretty big Sandown 500 debut for me this weekend," said Caruso.

"Being handed the responsibility of driving with Max and driving the new WOW car is a big deal and I will be doing everything I can to repay the team's faith in me by doing a solid job.

"Sandown is a track where the team had good pace last year. I have not driven a V8 Supercar around there but have raced a Formula 3 car there and like the layout.

"Max and I have worked well together in testing and the WPS/WOW Racing team are a great bunch of guys to work with, so I'm definitely excited about this weekend.

"The new car felt good in testing and I think there is a lot of potential there. It's been good to work with the crew over the past few weeks as they have been getting the new car ready and Max and I will be looking to reward all their hard work with a top result."

Craig Gore -- WPS/WOW Racing Team Owner

"The entire team has put in a big effort to get the new WOW car ready for Sandown," said Gore.

"Max and Michael have been working well together in testing and I know that they are very keen to repay the crew's hard work and get our new car a good result first time out.

"I'm confident that Max, Michael and our engineers will get on top of the new WOW car very quickly. We have been improving our speed all season but this new car represents the next step in WPS/WOW Racing's development as we seek to move forwards.

"Sandown will be a big event for our team. The first endurance race of the season is always exciting and Sandown is an event that we performed well at last season."

-credit: wps/wow