Marcos Ambrose completes test ahead of V8 Supercars return

Marcos Ambrose has completed a brief test programme ahead of his V8 Supercars return in the Sydney season finale next weekend.
“It’s just been a blast so far, I’ve really enjoyed it,” said Ambrose to v8supercars.com.au.

The 38-year-old left V8 Supercars after the 2005 season and has been racing in various NASCAR series’ since then, meaning a steep learning curve ahead of his return.

”It’s going to be a jump in the deep end, [I’ll] just try to survive Sydney. But I’m learning all of that stuff that I won’t need to when I get to Clipsal. So it’s certainly fast-tracking our 2015 campaign,” said Ambrose.

Ambrose finished third overall in his final V8 Supercars season in 2005, then driving a Ford Falcon of the previous Project Blueprint specification.

“Really the hardest part to get comfortable with is [to] get the brake zone deep enough. I’m learning the new shifter as well, the sequential box – something new for me. But I’m impressed by the comfort of the car, the car feels pretty comfortable to hustle around the track here,” said Ambrose.

The step from NASCAR to V8 Supercars is even bigger, with Ambrose describing them as completely different disciplines.

”They’re so different, it’s a very different discipline – these cars roll, good corner speed, you’ve got to be on part throttle a lot just trying to carry momentum. Whereas a Cup Car, it’s got so much horsepower you’re either on the loud pedal, or you’re on the brakes, there’s no in-between.

“And these cars are finely setup as well, they’ve got a lot of nice new stuff in the cars to make them setup really well.

“It’s just fine-tuning really. One millimeter here, two millimetres there can make a big difference, whereas in NASCAR you can bend the rear end by half an inch and it doesn’t make a lick of difference.”