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Fujitsu V8 Supercar Series frontrunner Steve Owen is aiming to extend his championship lead as the series ventures north for round four at Queensland Raceway this weekend (July 18-20).

After his second victory of the season at Sandown Raceway last month, Steve will have all eyes focussed on keeping the momentum going towards the series crown at what will be his first outing at the Willowbank circuit in the V8 Supercar development series.

Steve has competed at the 3.12km circuit the past three years in the V8 Supercar Championship Series. However, it will be this year’s strong results that the 33-year-old is banking on for another win in the #62 Tint-A-Car VZ Commodore in order to continue what has been a year solely of podium finishes.

“Winning at Sandown was definitely another tick in the box towards the title,” he said. “There’s been a big gap between rounds but we’re just going to go out there to try and win and there’s nothing to suggest otherwise.

“Our aim this year has always been about getting back into the main game V8 Supercar series next year so hopefully our results up the front have been noticed. We want every chance of holding that series trophy at the end of the year.”

The Fujitsu Series will hold three 14-lap races in support of the V8 Supercar Championship this weekend. Although they are less than half the distance of the main series races, Steve will have his past experience in the premier category on his side.

“Because the races are much shorter, the premium’s not on looking after your tyres nearly as much. It’s not as close up the front so you don’t have 30 cars within a few 10ths; you’ve only got three or four cars instead.

“We want to keep on the winning front for sure but it would look awfully silly crashing out of the lead, and this year has shown that both of our biggest threats, Jack [Perkins] and Dean [Canto], have had bad rounds.

“If it turns out that we have to eat a little bit of humble pie and finish second or third to still extend the championship lead, then we’ll do that. All we want to do is to extend our lead of the championship.”

Meanwhile, in the V8 Supercar series, Steve has been the dominant ‘non-regular’ driver in the first two allocated co-driver practice sessions so far this year (at Eastern Creek and Sandown Raceways), and will again suit up for Jim Beam Racing in Friday’s allocated half-hour track session.

Steve currently leads the Fujitsu V8 Supercar Series standings on 786 points. The first practice session starts at 9am on Friday, followed by qualifying and race one on Saturday and the remaining two races on Sunday.

The Tint-A-Car race team would like to thank Beaumont Tiles, Bollé and Racer Industries.

Source:V8 Latest News