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Ambrose to wear Shell colours in 2015


Gearing himself up for his full-time return to V8 Supercar racing in the season-opening Clipsal 500 next week, two-time champion Marcos Ambrose says the key to hitting the top of his sport again is to slow down.

After an almost 10-year absence from the pinnacle of V8s, the 38-year-old Launceston-born driver has his first race in Adelaide next weekend in the Dick Johnson Racing team Penske Ford.

Ambrose took out the Australian series in 2003 and 2004 before forging a career with seven Nascar wins in the US, including two in the top-level Sprint Cup. He says there is a long list of challenges to get through to beat the new generation of V8 drivers who have emerged during his years away.

"For me the biggest challenge in the V8s is slowing the car down," Ambrose said yesterday.

The person who can brake the best wins the race

"In Nascar the whole aim is to keep the car running at very high speeds for the entire race, 330km/h to 340km/h for 500 miles (800km).

"You don't have to slow down that much.

"With these V8 cars it's the slowing down that makes the difference. The person who can brake the best wins the race.

So I really have to refine my braking technique

"So I really have to refine my braking technique as well as get a better understanding of the dynamics of the car on old tyres, new tyres. Time will help with that."

Ambrose and Johnson yesterday unveiled their new car at Johnson's race headquarters at Stapylton, south of Brisbane.

The team announced a major sponsorship from Shell for the joint venture in which US billionaire Roger Penske has bought 51 per cent of Dick Johnson Racing.

The "new" sponsorship deal would warm the hearts of Johnson fans, with the Queensland legend synonymous with the brand during the glory days of the 1980s.

The new car is of course a brand new FG X Ford Falcon, but carries a definite retro feel with its livery.

In NASCAR he achieved wins that no other Australian has ever done

Ambrose said he grew up as a fan of Johnson, especially because Johnson's teammate John Bowe was a fellow Tasmanian. He was delighted to now be driving a car with Johnson's No. 17 on the side.

Johnson, 69, who started his racing career in an FJ Holden 51 years ago, said he was thrilled to secure a driver of Ambrose's calibre."Marcos has always had a high profile in Australia," Johnson said.

"When he left for America he was on top of the game in V8 racing and in NASCAR he achieved wins that no other Australian has ever done."