Finishing eleventh in the series – his first ever championship result outside of the top ten – was a disappointing end to Ingall's season. He netted just one podium – a second place finish at Surfers Paradise, and was unable to match the pace shown by his team-mate, James Courtney.
Ingall will depart Ford and SBR in 2008, rejoining Holden with a Supercheap Auto supported Paul Morris Motorsports, but it remains to be seen if Ingall will challenge again for victories, or if the switch is simply to secure the Englishman a comfortable retirement home.
Russell Ingall 2007 report card: C+
Ford Performance Racing
Team's Championship: 4th (-2)
Victories: Desert 400 - Bahrain
Car #5 – BF Falcon – Mark Winterbottom (NSW)
Championship position: 5th (-2)
Round wins: 1
Race wins: 2
Podiums: 1
Top three race finishes: 5
Pole positions: 4
One of the stars of the 2007 championship was Mark Winterbottom – who won the ArmorAll pole position award.
Despite a difficult start to the championship in Adelaide, Winterbottom showed consistent car speed for FPR throughout the championship, netting five poles and his debut solo round win at the Bahrain International Circuit.
In addition, the 2003 Fujitsu V8 Series champion finished in the top three five times, finished once on the podium and collected two race wins.
Winterbottom stands as a championship favourite for 2008, but he and FPR need to convert their dominant qualifying pace into consistent top three finishes if he is to challenge Garth Tander for the crown.
Mark Winterbottom 2007 report card: A
Car #6 – BF Falcon – Steven Richards (NZL)
