Ash Walsh is a driver in the 2014 Dunlop V8 Supercar Series. The Dunlop Series, formerly known as the Fujitsu V8 Supercar Development Series, is the second tier V8 Supercar Series in Australia. Ash will compete in the 2014 series in a Matt Stone Racing Ford Falcon. To keep up to date with Ash’s racing, be sure to visit this site regularly.
Ash Walsh went into Race 2 of the Dunlop Series round at the Clipsal 500 confident of another strong showing having banked a Pole Position in the morning Qualifying. The front row of the grid was the opposite of Race 1 with the Infants’ Friend FG Falcon in position 1 and main rival Cam Waters in position 2. Waters grabbed the advantage at the green light and led Walsh into Turn 1. These two began to ease away from the field with former series champ Paul Dumbrell in third.
The race was run under the new 2014 regulations of longer races and lapped traffic and a setting sun would all become factors towards the end of the race. For 22 of the 26 laps, Walsh sat in the shadows of Waters; the gap fluctuating but Ash was always in striking distance. The race was turned on its head however when the two leaders arrived behind rookie Dan Day at Turn 1. Waters was held up and Walsh was all over the back of the FPR Ford. Waters struggled to get the car stopped at Turn 4 leaving a gap that Walsh pounced on. As they headed out of Turn 4 Walsh’s lead was short lived as the two Falcons clashed. Waters was into the side of Ash spinning the Infants’ Friend Ford and damaging his own car in the process. Walsh gathered it up and pressed on whilst Waters was out.
The MSR crew urged Walsh to keep going and despite a damaged car, Ash crossed the line in 6th and a spot on the podium. Paul Dumbrell and Taz Douglas were the big winners and took the first two steps of the podium. Walsh was pleased to ensure a solid point’s haul but clearly disappointed in the way the race unfolded.
#87 – Ash Walsh – Infant’s Friend Falcon FG
“The car has been really good all weekend and it was clear that whoever got the jump was in the box seat. I tried like hell to make the car the best I could with bars and bias to try and have a crack at Cam, but he was quick today. We went into Turn 4 after catching the back markers and Cam made a mistake so I went up the inside and thought I was clear as we exited but we hit wheels on the exit and I was turned around. I was on the limit the whole race and we were both under the lap record. It is shaping up for a big year. A good weekend overall for the MSR boys and I am happy to be in the title hunt.”
The Dunlop Series now heads to Winton in April for Round 2.
Infants’ Friend V8 Supercar driver Ash Walsh has opened his assault on the 2014 Dunlop Series in scintillating form dominating practice, qualifying and taking the win in Race 1 of the weekend.
A 30 car strong field has lined up for Round 1 of the Dunlop Series as the main support for the Clipsal 500, and Walsh made his intentions known from the very first session on Thursday. The Ipswich based driver topped the time sheets in both the practice sessions and was confident that the changes the Matt Stone Racing crew had made to the Infants’ Friend Falcon during practice would deliver a good Qualifying run.
Just 1/10th of a second however was enough to put Walsh into P2 for the first race, but a front row grid start was all he needed to stamp his authority as the field raced down the Turn 1 Senna Chicane. Walsh jumped well and led Pole sitter Cam Waters pulling out a 1 second lead on the first lap.
This fluctuated between one and two seconds, and Ash looked to have the race under control. The late afternoon sun was very strong in the run up to Turn 3 and as so often occurs a Safety Car was called with just a handful of laps to run.
Walsh backed the pack up and jumped keeping his advantage to hold out a fast finishing Waters and Paul Dumbrell in a well judged race. A delighted Walsh returned to the pits to a very happy MSR crew and also welcomed new sponsor AUSblue in the team celebration.
#87 – Ash Walsh – Infant’s Friend Falcon FG
“The car has been fantastic every time we have been on track so far this weekend. We have been in the Top 2 in every session, but we just missed Pole in the first Qualifying. Going into tomorrow I hope we can rectify some of the small issues we had, but it has been really good so far. The car was a really good race car over the distance tonight; it was very fast even in the last few laps. I was a little wary when the Safety Car came out, but got a good restart and made the gap on the run to the flag. Early days, but a great result for the Infants’ Friend Falcon.”
The final Dunlop Series race will be run on Saturday at the Clipsal 500.
Ash Walsh, the 2013 Dunlop Series runner up, has announced today that he has renewed links with major sponsor Infants’ Friend and the Matt Stone Racing Team for 2014. With many options available, Walsh and his team worked through a number of scenarios before once again signing with the young Queensland based team. It will be Walsh’s third full year in the V8 Supercars Development Series on top of a number of starts in 2011.
Capitalising on the continuity of 2013, Walsh was very pleased that national pharmaceutical company, Infants’ Friend would continue the successful association launched in 2013. The 26 year old Ipswich based driver will again run the #87 ex Stone Bros FG Falcon for the Matt Stone Racing team after a very successful season in 2013, where he scooped second outright in the ultra-competitive Dunlop Series. Walsh was delighted to announce an expansion of the relationship with Infants’ Friend sighting the continuity of sponsors and team will give him the best opportunity yet to take the Championship.
“We are really happy that the Infants’ Friend team reviewed the results of 2013 and are coming with us again in 2014. They worked the sponsorship very hard with retail and trade promotions and it has paid off.” Walsh said. “The Dunlop Series this year will be super competitive so to be able to stay put with Matt Stone Racing with increased sponsorship support is a great outcome. I can’t wait to get to Adelaide as it is a fantastic event” Ash added.
Infants’ Friend Managing Director Neil McPhillips outlined the primary objective of the sponsorship at the launch. “We have an Australian range of very successful baby products that have been around for nearly 80 years. I said in 2013 that we had a great opportunity to connect with young families with V8 Supercars and we were proven right. On top of this it has given our brand exposure in markets we don’t normally access thorough our retail promotion. The feedback from our sales force in 2013 was very strong. I think there were a few people that were surprised with a product like ours partnering a motor sport team but we believe it is a very sound and successful marketing strategy.” McPhillips said.
MSR boss Matt Stone was delighted to re-sign Walsh for 2014. “2013 saw MSR put two cars in the Top 10 in the Dunlop Series point score with Ash doing a great job to come second overall. There were some great highlights including the Round win in Perth, race podiums and a Pole Position at the final in Sydney. MSR is firmly now one of the major teams in the Series and to sign Ash again is a great thing for us. There is no reason why we can’t challenge at every race for podiums and wins and ultimately the Championship.” Stone said.
The first round of the 2014 Dunlop Series for V8 Supercars will be run at the Clipsal 500 in just over 8 weeks’ time.
Infants’ Friend V8 Supercar driver Ash Walsh has wrapped up his season netting 2nd place overall in the 2013 Dunlop Series. The final round held as part of the Sydney NRMA Motoring and Services 500 was one of highs and lows for Walsh. With a Pole Position and great first race win, Ash lined up on Pole Position again hoping to close out the year with another win.
However, his race was over before it began. During the warm up lap, Ash was running through the normal start procedure when the rear axle snapped. It was an unexpected and disappointing end of the season for the young Ipswich based driver. Walsh pulled the car off the grid and into the Pit lane, hopping out of the car as the field got away.
Walsh was philosophical, but pleased with the win and Pole Position prior to the final event. The Infants’ Friend Team will now take a well earned break before planning the 2014 season.
#87 – Ash Walsh – Infants’ Friend FG Falcon
“I was just going through the normal start up procedure, grabbed first gear to do a burn out and the axle snapped. So that was it! All these parts have a racing life but there was no sign of something like this happening. It was a tough way to finish the weekend after Pole and a race win”
Speaking on the overall series, Ash said, “We have had some bad luck this year but a round and a few race wins shows that the Infants’ Friend MSR Falcon can do the job. I am happy with my own performance this year and second in the Dunlop Series given the quality of the field is a good result. I will analyse all the results and look to come back stronger in 2014.”
Twitter: AshWalsh45
Infants’ Friend V8 Supercar driver Ash Walsh has delivered a dominant performance in the opening race of the 2013 Dunlop Series. After a last lap do or die quaffing lap, Walsh grabbed Pole Position to start at the head of the 30 car field.
All the series contenders were at the front of the field as the cars gridded for Race one of two this weekend. Series point’s leader Dale Wood sat one row behind Ash, with Steve Owen and Jack Perkins making up the first two rows.
Walsh made a great start and instantly gapped the field running in clear air. Behind him a huge battle was brewing between Perkins and Wood, with Owen about ½ second behind Ash. Incidents up and down the field were coming thick and fast and not unexpectedly a Safety Car was called for. With the field closed right up, Ash jumped well at the restart but Owen was much closer to the rear bumper of the Infants’ Friend MSR Falcon. As the laps ran down Owen was pushing hard but a cool headed Walsh resisted every attempt and in fact increased the gap in the dying laps.
The Matt Stone crew were on the fence to cheer on Walsh as he crossed the line in 1st place. A great reward for Ash and the team and a clear second place in the 2013 Dunlop Series locked away.
#87 – Ash Walsh – Infants’ Friend FG Falcon
“It was great to put my starting woes behind me and get away really well from Pole.” Ash joked. “I had Steve (Owen) really pressuring me for over half the race. We had decided to start with lower tyre pressures but as the race progressed it was really good. I could work on the bias and tune the car as the laps rolled on. When Owen started to come at me I really focussed on not giving him any opportunity to come past. I was still having a little bit of squirming under brakes so I knew if I could keep him covered there was a good chance I could gap him at the end. It is a great result for the Infants’ Friend Falcon, and the team really deserved this win. I am really looking forward to see if we can do it all again tomorrow.”
Web: www.ashwalshmotorsport.com
Twitter: AshWalsh45