Stone Brothers Racing Perth preview

Russell Ingall says "It's time to get serious"

Caltex Havoline Racing's Russell Ingall has declared that its time to "get serious" on the eve of the VB 300 -- the fifth round of the V8 Supercar Championship Series at Perth's Barbagallo Raceway this weekend.

Ingall says he is keen to steal back some of the headlines from his Stone Brothers Racing teammate Marcos Ambrose with a big result of his own at one of his favourite circuits of the year and where he is the qualifying lap record holder.

Ambrose has taken centre stage with wins in the previous two rounds in his Pirtek Falcon, but Ingall says its time to get back into the news with his first round win for Ford.

Ingall has been the leading Ford driver in the championship since the opening round in Adelaide, but is yet to record a race win -- despite a fantastic debut in the non-championship races at the Foster's Australian Grand Prix back in March.

A jammed wheel nut during a pit stop cost Ingall a serious chance of his first round win at Winton two weeks ago. Despite the loss of 17 seconds in the pits Ingall showed fantastic fighting qualities to punch his way back to fourth.

It is those fighting qualities which can never rule Ingall out of any "stoush", especially one where he is chasing his first championship after being the bridesmaid on three occasions.

"I actually don't mind that Marcos is in the limelight with a couple of round wins, because it has meant that I have been able to just chip away and settle right into the car and the team," said Ingall, a former two-time Bathurst winner.

"But now it's time to get serious.

"I want to win this championship and the best way to do that is by winning races.

"I think going back to the three 100km race sprint format suits my style of driving and we will be on it this weekend."

In the past seven years Ingall has qualified in the top four, four times. In 21 race starts at Barbagallo Ingall has only failed to finish twice, has had12 top-six races finishes and four top-five outright placings.

"I am still the leading Ford driver in the championship and I want to keep it that way after this weekend," said Ingall.

"Barbagallo has been pretty good to me in the past and it is certainly a circuit I enjoy racing on.

"I look forward to driving a Ford for the first time in the West because I have a really strong fan base over there.

"There is no doubt that the boys at SBR will give me a car to do the job, we just have to get on with it."

-sbr-