21st November 2004

Talented Australian, Will Power, who recently completed his second year of British Formula Three, returned back from Italy on Thursday after a test with Championship winning Euro Formula 3000 team, Draco Racing, where he impressed being the fastest of the four drivers.

Will drove the Draco F3000 car on Wednesday for approximately 40 laps around the Misano track, the same track where his Minardi F1 test will be held next week.ÿ Will was fastest on the day with a time of 1:21.00sec on old tyres, 1 second ahead of the next driver who ran a time of, 1:22.00sec.

“I couldn’t wait to get back into a car after a break of almost two months, I thought I might be off my form a little, but I was fine” said Will of his first F3000 test.

“The car really suited my driving style and hopping back in a high powered car after two years of Formula Three in the UK [Will won the high-powered Formula 4000 championship in Australia in 2002], I could definitely notice the improvement in my driving.ÿ I now know for sure that I could do a good job next year in a stronger car and it’s made me hungry to get back to Europe, I just really enjoyed it and Draco Racing are a very professional team. “He enthused.

Will travels back to Italy on Monday morning before his F1 test on Tuesday and feels now that he’s had a test and learnt the track, stepping into the powerful Minardi won’t be such a shock to the system.ÿ

The Minardi F1 test was a promise from Paul Stoddart, in conjunction with the Australian Grand Prix Corporation made at the end of 2003, the only condition being that Will complete the 2004 British F3 season.ÿ The promise was an incentive for the young Aussie to stick out the full year and a helpful tool when seeking out sponsorship.

Ends//


For more information, please contact:

Kerry Fenwick (Media and PR manager)
kerry@markwebber.com
Mobile: +44 (0)777 8565 711
Or go to www.will-power.com.au for information on Will Power.

Draco Racing Website: www.dracoracing.com

For immediate release 24th November 2004

Grinning from ear to ear, Australian Will Power, was delighted as he stepped out of a Minardi PS04B/04 after his first ever run in a Formula One car at Misano, Italy yesterday. Power completed 22 laps for the Australian/Italian team and in the short time allocated, managed a best lap time of 1min11.079. His pace impressed team principle, Paul Stoddart, who said, “It was quite an effort for a first test and after only a relatively small amount of laps.”

The test came about as a promise delivered by Stoddart at last year’s launch of the 2004 Foster’s Australian Grand Prix. Stoddart, who gave Mark Webber his F1 break, agreed to test Australians Will Power and Will Davison on the proviso they compete in the 2004 British Formula Three Championship. It was just the incentive for Power who has dreamed of driving an F1 car since he was a young boy.

“I loved it!” Enthused Will afterwards, “There is no way to describe it to anyone - it’s just an awesome feeling having that much power under you and such impressive brakes and speed.ÿ Now I know what I’ve been missing out on, it’s going to make me very hungry to get more.

“Each lap you do, you get used to how the car is going to react and you push a bit harder, I knocked time off with each lap I did, and I know that it’s possible to keep pushing until you are only looking for half a tenth here and there – it would just be a matter of time in the car.” He said

The Minardi team didn’t waste the on-track time; recording the drivers’ feedback and in between sessions, analysing their data, enabling Power to evaluate his driving before heading out onto the track again.

Weather conditions remained similar throughout the day, although the track temperature had risen slightly when Power ran in the afternoon.ÿ He was on the track when Stoddart arrived to support the young Australians and after watching him complete his 22 laps (including in and out laps), Paul praised both drivers. “They both acquitted themselves with distinction, in that they were on the pace quickly and set very competitive times after only a relatively small number of laps. This is hugely significant, when you consider neither of them had ever sat in an F1 car before today”.

When asked what the test would mean for Power, Stoddart said he hoped that he could one day follow in the footsteps of Australia’s current F1 star, Mark Webber and that it would encourage the Australian corporate sector to get behind their young drivers overseas.


Power finished the day fastest out of the three drivers, approx. two tenths ahead of Davison and over two seconds ahead of Israeli driver, Chanok Nissany, who had also tested the day before.

Will travels home on the 30th of November in a bid to gather support and raise the funds needed for his GP2 campaign in Europe next year.ÿ

Ends//

01/11/2005

The Aussie Vineyards Team Australia squad has its sights set on a top five championship result for Alex Tagliani as the Champ Car World Series heads to Mexico for the final round of the 2005 championship this weekend.

Tagliani’s fourth place finished on the streets of Surfers Paradise moved him within seven points of A.J. Allmendinger in fifth place. However, Tagliani faces a tough challenge ahead with Allmendinger heading a points “traffic jam” with 199 points ahead of Jimmy Vassser, 198; Tagliani, 192; Mario Dominguez, 189; and Timo Glock on 181.

However, the Canadian-born “adopted Australian” will be hoping for a change of fortune in Mexico with his new team in 2005. His best ever qualifying effort at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez is only 13th (2004 and 2003) and his best race finish 10th (2002).

Tagliani will be joined in Mexico by young Australian star Will Power who will make his second start for Team Australia.

The Queenslander made his debut at the Lexmark Indy 300 after spending 2005 racing in Europe in the World Series by Renault Championship.

The Aussie Vineyards team will also run a third car at the series finale for newly-crowned Toyota Atlantic champion Charles Zwolsman.

Team Australia will make its debut in the relaunched Cosworth-powered Atlantic Championship in 2006 with a two car team wearing the green and gold colours.


ALEX TAGLIANI - #15, AUSSIE VINEYARDS LOLA FORD
“The track at Mexico City has a lot of really good high speed corners, especially the chicane over on the back part of the course.
“It really has a little bit of everything – including a street course type section inside the baseball stadium. Overall it is pretty demanding and a challenging place to get the car right for.
“The aim for the weekend is to keep fighting hard to grab a top five spot in the championship.
“I am only seven points from 5th spot but it will be a very tight battle with those guys I am fighting with.
“Bad luck cost me some points early in the year, but it will now be very important to finish with a good result. That will give the Aussie Vineyards team a great springboard for 2006.”

MEXICO CITY RESULTS
2004: Start 13th. Finish 11th
2003: Start 13th. Finish 16th
2002: Start 14th. Finish 10th


WILL POWER - #5, AUSSIE VINEYARDS LOLA FORD
"Basically I am looking forward to getting back in the car again.
"These couple of races are all about seat time for me before I head into my first full rookie season.
"I am looking forward to completing a race without any drama and learning as much as I possibly can.
"From what I hear about Mexico it is a pretty fast track and that's something that I certainly like.
"I just need to stay out of trouble and get the miles."

CHARLES ZWOLSMAN - #25, AUSSIE VINEYARDS LOLA FORD
“This has been a tremendous year for me personally and Condor Motorsports.
“I have to thank Team Australia and Kevin Kalkhoven and his Champ Car operation for making this weekend’s ride possible.
“The goal has been to reach the Champ Car ranks for sometime and I am really looking forward to the experience.
“Team Australia has really made an impact this season on and off the track and I believe I will learn a lot this weekend in so many areas.”

CRAIG GORE - CO-OWNER TEAM AUSTRALIA
"We have certainly come a long way in what seems a short amount of time.
"It is hard to believe we are already at the last race of the season.
"Everyone involved with the team is still on the high generated in Australia and I think the crew is living on adrenalin after their efforts to get three cars to the last couple of races.
"I think everyone involved with Team Australia can be proud of what we have achieved this season and hopefully we can get Alex a couple of spots higher on the championship table with a solid result in Mexico this weekend.
"We certainly could have had better results in Australia on the track, but sometimes that's racing. Bring on Mexico."

DERRICK WALKER – CO-OWNER TEAM AUSTRALIA
“This will be the last track where we will be running the Lola for the first time. Finding that sweet spot early will be the secret to having a strong car in qualifying.
“The Mexico City track has a little bit of everything, it really is a classic road course.
“I went to Mexico for the original Champ Car events in 1980 and 81 and the facility has changed dramatically since then. It really is now first class. I have to say this race is one of my favourites. It is a great fan track with a brilliant atmosphere.
“Our first season together really has had a lot more positives than negatives but our aim will certainly be to cap off the year with a good result.

LAST YEAR IN MEXICO CITY:
1 - S. Bourdais - 1:39:02.662
2 - B. Junqueira - + 4.604
3 - A. Allmendinger - + 6.780
4 - J. Wilson - + 7.902
5 - J. Vasser - + 17.081
6 - P. Carpentier - + 57.788
7 - O. Servia - + 1:21.101
8 - M. Dominguez - + 1:22.727
9 - M. Jourdain Jr. - +1:31.899
10 - P. Tracy - + 1 Lap
11 - A. Tagliani - + 1 Lap
12 - R. Gonzalez - + 1 Lap
13 - R. Lavin - + 1 Lap
14 - M. Valiante - + 1 Lap
15 - M. Haberfeld - + 1 Lap
16 - N. Philippe - + 1 Lap
17 - G. Smith - + 1 Lap
18 - T. Marques - + 3 Laps
19 - R. Hunter-Reay + 5 Laps

CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS:
1 – S. Bourdais - 344
2 – O. Servia - 265
3 – J. Wilson - 231
4 – P. Tracy - 221
5 - A.J. Allmendinger - 199
6 – J. Vasser - 198
7 – A. Tagliani - 192
8 – M. Dominguez - 189
9 – T. Glock (R) - 181
10 – R. Bremer (R) - 137
11 – C. da Matta - 132
12 – A. Ranger (R) - 126
13 – B. Wirdheim (R) - 115
14 – R. Hunter-Reay - 110
15 – M. Marshall (R) - 104
16 – N. Philippe - 100
17 – R. Sperafico (R) - 89
18 – R. Lavin - 65
19 – B. Junqueira - 59
20 – A. Sperafico - 24
21 – R. Dalziel (R) - 13
22 – T. Marques - 10
23 – M. Valiante (R) - 10
24 – F. Del Monte (R) - 10
25 – M. McDowell (R) - 9
26 – W. Power (R) - 6
27 – J. Goeters (R) - 3

SCHEDULE
Practice 1: November 4, 10:15 am (local) / November 5, 3:15 am (AEST)
Practice 2: November 4, 2:00 pm (local) / November 5, 7:00 am (AEST)
Qualifying 1: November 4, 2:25 pm (local) / November 5, 7:25 am (AEST)
Practice 3: November 5, 9:15 am (local) / November 6, 2:15 am (AEST)
Practice 4: November 5, 12.45 pm (local) / November 6, 5:45 am (AEST)
Qualifying 2: November 5, 1:10 pm (local) / November 6, 6:00 am (AEST)
Warm-Up: November 6, 10:45 am (local) / November 7, 3:45 pm (AEST)
Race: November 6, 2:45 pm (local) / November 7, 7:45am (AEST)

AUSTRALIAN TELEVISION: The Montreal round of the Champ Car World Series will be telecast on Network Ten at 11.50 pm (AEST) on November 7.