FPR unveils Oz's largest race engineering centre.

Prodrive-owned Australian V8 Supercar team Ford Performance Racing has raised the curtain on the new season by opening its outstanding new engineering headquarters.

Without a doubt the country's largest motor racing engineering facility, the FPR Race Centre was opened to the public as the highlight of Sunday's Ford Performance Vehicles and FPR Open Day.

Prodrive chairman David Richards was joined by MD Nick Fry, Ford Australia MD Geoff Polites, FPV/FPR MD David Flint and FPR's brace of champion drivers, Craig Lowndes and Glenn Seton, in unveiling the team's 3600 square metre engineering and administrative headquarters. Prior to the official opening, the entire building had been completely concealed by a massive blue curtain that was spectacularly raised in front of several thousand Ford fans, members of the media and FPR commercial partner VIP guests.

Located within a one kilometre radius of the main Ford Australia design and manufacturing plants, the FPR Race Centre shares the same site as Australia's only V8 engine production line and the Prodrive Asia Pacific technology centre. The new FPR headquarters houses some of the most advanced precision engineering equipment available, along with the management and marketing teams of both FPV and FPR, promoting the total performance link that exists between these two powerful Blue Oval marques.

Major emphasis has been placed on making the Race Centre easily accessible for race fans.The attractive building layout features an FPR, FPV and Ford Racing retail outlet, comfortable caf? area and spacious conference / meeting facilities for the use of FPV, FPR, the team's commercial partners, Ford / FPV car clubs and charity events.

According to Richards, the day's events marked a very important milestone for the global company's Australian motor racing operations.

"Today, we are involved in the world's top motorsport formulae - Formula One with BAR, the World Rally Championship with Subaru and international sportscar racing
with privately run Ferraris and the forthcoming Aston Martin Racing programme," he explained, "This superb facility shows our commitment to our partnership with Ford in what is truly one of the most exciting and most avidly followed series in the world."

Flint was delighted to welcome the public to this innovative facility for the first time.

"Our new Race Centre forms the solid engineering foundation that this young V8 Supercar team needs to take it to the top of the V8 Supercar Championship, while placing special importance on public access and versatile corporate partner use," he said, "We extend an open invitation to Blue Oval enthusiasts nationwide to visit us when next in Melbourne."