Steve Owen capped his season with victory in Race 2
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By Fujitsu V8 Supercar Series 7:50 PM Sun 5 December, 2010
Source: V8 Supercars Australia
New Fujitsu V8 Supercar Series champ Steve Owen believes he's done enough to return to the main series in 2011 after a title-clinching weekend at Sydney Olympic Park.
The Commodore driver finished the season as he started it, by clean-sweeping the weekend.
The Victorian won Sunday's 17-lapper in Sydney, which followed a perfect Saturday in which he took victory from pole position.
His fourth round win, from seven, has him well-placed to return to the top-tier V8 Supercar Championship next year.
“You can never be totally sure in this game, but I'm pretty confident I'll be returning to the main series next year,” the 35-year-old said.
“I've had a fantastic end to 2010 and this was a perfect weekend.”
Owen was runner-up in the Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000 before scoring his first win the top division at the new-format, two-driver Armor All Gold Coast 600.
“The Fujitsu Series was absolutely ideal preparation for my endurance race co-driving role with TeamVodafone with Jamie Whincup, which is what put me back in the frame.
“To get the miles in a V8 Supercar throughout the year in the Fujitsu Series was a big plus before joining Triple Eight at Phillip Island.”
Fujitsu Series rookie Nick Percat (Commodore) and second-year driver James Moffat (Falcon) completed the round podium in the Sydney Telstra 500 support event.
Percat was the early Race 2 leader after beating Owen off the start-line. However, the Bundaberg Red Racing youngster was unable to repel Owen's attack and gave up the lead mid-race. Percat finished the race in second place. Moffat was third.
Tim Blanchard's fourth place in Sunday's race was enough to secure the Sirromet Wines-backed Falcon driver second in the championship.
Newcastle's Drew Russell came home fifth in Race 2, from Scott McLaughlin, Geoff Emery, David Besnard, Shane Price and Marcus Zukanovic.
David Russell crossed the line in fifth place, having made up 13 places from his starting position. However the Team Jayco Falcon driver incurred a time penalty after tagging the rear of Blanchard's car, which forced Blanchard off the track, and he was ultimately classified 12th.
Russell's disastrous round dropped him from second to fifth in the championship standings over the weekend.
Owen's title was the first for Fujitsu Series stalwarts Greg Murphy Racing, which became the 11th different team in as many seasons to claim the crown.
