Ford's Mark Winterbottom today gave his under siege manufacturer some breathing space - for both its controversial V8 Supercar sponsorship cuts and in the race for the championship.
Winterbottom increased his title lead, heading a Ford Performance Racing (FPR) one-two in the opening race of round six of the V8 Supercar series at Hidden Valley Raceway.
Starting from pole position, Winterbottom led from start to finish to provide a welcome relief for Ford, which has copped a hammering over wide-reaching sponsorship cuts to its V8 teams for next year.
FPR will be one of only two teams to get direct cash input from Ford from next year onwards, and Winterbottom did not let the marque down with a dominant performance today.
First the 27-year-old sizzled in qualifying this morning to secure pole position after being fastest in Friday's practice session.
Then he obliterated his rivals in today's race, beating Steven Richards comfortably, with daylight - or 13 seconds to be exact - to third-placed defending V8 champion Garth Tander's Holden.
Winterbottom increased his overall championship lead to 66 points over second-placed Tander with today's win.
But he stressed Ford's difficult last few days hadn't made him or his team try any harder to prove a point.
"What's gone on in the last week doesn't make you appreciate a win any more, or strive harder to win," Winterbottom said.
"We've been trying to get a one-two for a long time. We just hadn't had two cars at the one time that were competitive.
"All the stuff that's gone on is good for publicity. But when you get results, it doesn't make much of a difference."
Team Vodafone's Ford driver Jamie Whincup remains third overall in the championship despite managing only fourth place in today's otherwise uneventful 42-lap race.
His teammate Craig Lowndes was fifth.
The big loser in the title chase today was fourth-placed Holden driver Rick Kelly, who could only qualify 13th and finished ninth in the race.
He has slipped to 140 points behind Winterbottom and will need a big result tomorrow to avoid dropping off the championship pace.
Two more 42-lap races are scheduled for tomorrow, with drivers taking their race one finish into grid position for race two.
