Ford Performance Racing (FPR) has again secured the services of IndyCar Series frontrunner Will Power for the Gold Coast 600 V8 Supercar race in October where he is scheduled to drive alongside Mark Winterbottom in the #5 Orrcon Steel FPR Falcon.
Power, who raced for FPR last year on the Gold Coast, is looking forward to returning to the street circuit where he has previously secured three pole positions racing open-wheel cars.
“I won a few poles in the Indy cars on the streets of Surfers Paradise, but could not get a race win so I certainly have some unfinished business,” said Power who made his V8 Supercar debut in an Orrcon-backed Falcon in 2002.
“The Gold Coast is always a fantastic event. I love to come home to Queensland and have the opportunity to race at an event that has so much energy.
“The whole city shows up for this event and they are joined by fans from all over the world.”
Power currently lies second in the IndyCar standings and although he has been busy battling for the series lead, the Toowoomba-born driver has been following FPR’s progress closely.
“I am really looking forward to working with Frosty (Winterbottom) again and knuckling down and getting the job done,” Power said.
“FPR has one of the fastest cars out there this season, I’m excited to see how it performs for me.
“The international field is looking extremely competitive. I am looking forward to the challenge and maybe winning a surfboard for Orrcon and FPR.
“In the meantime I am concentrating on trying to win my first IZOD IndyCar Series title. It would be fantastic to head home as the champion.”
FPR Team Principal Tim Edwards is pleased the team has retained the services of one of the world’s leading drivers given all 28 regular V8 Supercar drivers must be paired with an international driver for this year’s event.
“It is a pleasure to have Will back in the FPR fold for this year’s international driver race on the Gold Coast,” Edwards said.
“He has an affinity with the track and has further improved as a driver since he was last with us. As one of the world’s leading circuit racers he will give us arguably the strongest driver combination on the grid.”
FPR’s two remaining international drivers will be announced in the coming weeks.
The Gold Coast 600 is scheduled for 21-21 October.