 by 
1st January, 2003
It's
official: Ford-powered Ingall to enforce with SBR
REBEL
racer Russell Ingall made just one New Year's resolution after inking a lucrative contract
with Ford-powered Stone Brothers Racing: to win the V8 Supercar championship.
"My expectations for 2003 are winning a championship - nothing more and nothing
less," Ford's newest star said today.
 "I am sure Ross and Jimmy Stone have not hired me
to muck around for a couple of seasons.
"Over the years I have proven I know how to nearly win a championship in a car
probably not capable of doing so. From what I have seen so far, I will definitely
have the equipment to do the job in 2003."
V8 Supercar fans logged onto the SBR website last night, one minute into the New Year, to
confirm what they already knew: the twice series runner-up has defected from Holden to
drive for the Queensland-based Ford team next season.
Now free of his contract with Larry Perkins' Castrol outfit, 'the Enforcer' was paraded in
Caltex colours at today's official Gold Coast launch.
Caltex announced a three-year contract extension with the team, while pledging support for
the man forced to make way for Ingall, David Besnard.
Besnard is set to announce a new Melbourne-based Ford mount in the coming weeks, with the
backing of Caltex.
 SBR also unveiled Ingall's weapon: a striking new-look Caltex
Havoline BA Falcon.
The aggressive livery is reflective of its pilot; a win-at-all-costs racer according to
his new boss.
"Russell has earned himself a reputation of being a fast and aggressive driver,"
said Ross Stone.
"We believe Russell will be a great asset for our team as we head into the new season
with a brand-new BA Ford race car and championship aspirations.
"We certainly have a lot of work to do before now and the first round, but I feel we
have a terrific pairing in Russell and Marcos [Ambrose]."
Ford boss Geoff Polites is expecting big things from his latest racing investment, too.
With recent Blue Oval recruit Jason Bargwanna, and former Holden star Craig Lowndes well
into a multi-year deal, Ford can now at least match the General in driver talent and
popularity.
"His driving capabilities are only really matched by his personality," Polites
said of Ingall.
"We're sure that Ford fans will make him feel welcome and support him for exactly the
same qualities they've cursed in the past."
Ingall isn't concerned about the reaction from jumping V8 Supercar racing's vast
manufacturer divide, nor worried about the competitiveness of Ford's long-awaited BA
racer.
"To be honest, I don't think there are too many big hurdles," he said.
"In that respect, it is probably a perfect time to be changing. It is
all about timing, as they say.
"All the cars, be it Ford or Holden, will be different this year, so there will be
some learning for everyone who is updating."
The team's BA Falcons are due to hit the track early next month for pre-season testing.
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