2004 V8 Supercars Launceston round

Motor race Tasmania 2004 V8 Supercars Launceston round 12 13 2004 V8SC Symmons Plains Raceway (Australia) track map.svg 12–14 November Launceston, Tasmania Symmons Plains Raceway Mixed 42 100 Steven Richards Perkins Engineering 52.9461 Rick Kelly John Kelly Racing 38:16.1351 42 100 Marcos Ambrose Stone Brothers Racing 40:46.9976 41 100 David Besnard WPS Racing 49:52.1890 Russell Ingall Stone Brothers Racing 164 Greg Murphy John Kelly Racing 160 Steven Richards Perkins Engineering 152 The 2004 V8 Supercars Launceston round was the twelfth round of the 2004 V8 Supercar Championship Series. It was held on the weekend of 12 to 14 November at the Symmons Plains Raceway in Launceston, Tasmania. This marked the championship return to Tasmania for the first time since 1999. Hometown hero Marcos Ambrose entered the round with an opportunity to wrap up the championship with a round to spare. He appeared on course to do so by claiming second in the first race behind Rick Kelly and winning the second.2004-11-14 Ambrose set to triumph https://www.theage.com.au/sport/motorsport/ambrose-set-to-triumph-20041114-gdyzps.html 2026-09-26 The Age en-AU However, an engine problem in the third race meant the championship would remain alive heading into the Grande Finale at Eastern Creek. David Besnard claimed victory in the third race amidst mass confusion after a safety car order error. Greg Murphy was initially declared the winner of the race but the stewards reversed the decision and handed the win back to Besnard. This was Besnard's second and last V8 Supercar victory as well as WPS Racing's only victory in the category.2018-04-04 Flashback: Symmons Plains' unlikeliest winner https://www.supercars.com/news/flashback-symmons-plains-unlikeliest-winner 2026-09-26 Supercars en-AU2025-05-04 The chain reaction of mistakes that caused a bizarre win https://www.v8sleuth.com.au/the-chain-reaction-of-mistakes-that-caused-a-bizarre-win/ 2026-09-26 V8 Sleuth en-AU2004-11-21 V8 stewards reverse Tasmanian result https://www.abc.net.au/news/2004-11-21/v8-stewards-reverse-tasmanian-result/589254 2026-09-26 ABC News Australia en-AU Russell Ingall claimed overall round honours with Greg Murphy in second and pole position winner Steven Richards in third.2023-05-19 AA Tasmania flashback 2004: Ingall wins wild and controversial round https://autoaction.com.au/2023/05/19/aa-tasmania-flashback-2004-ingall-wins-wild-and-controversial-round 2026-09-26 Auto Action en-AU Background The event was held on the weekend of 12 to 14 November 2004. It was the 32nd ATCC/V8 Supercar event to be held at Symmons Plains Raceway and consisted of three 100 km races with compulsory pitstops each. During practice, both WPS Racing cars sported windscreen signage displaying the words 'No Money from Ford'. This was done at the behest of team owner Craig Gore in protest of what he perceived to be a lack of support from Ford. Both cars were quickly black-flagged and ordered to promptly remove the signage in accordance to rule B6.5.4 Conduct Prejudicial, which effectively governs the matter of bringing the sport into disrepute. Gore criticised the officials and questioned the motive of the censorship.2004-11-15 Symmons Plains: WPS Racing statement on censorship https://au.motorsport.com/v8supercars/news/symmons-plains-wps-racing-statement-on-censorship/1188401/ 2026-09-26 Motorsport.com en-AU2004-11-16 Plains-talking Gore complains of cover-up https://www.smh.com.au/sport/motorsport/plains-talking-gore-complains-of-cover-up-20041116-gdk4eq.html 2026-09-26 The Sydney Morning Herald en-AU Marcos Ambrose entered the round as the championship leader and mathematically in with a chance to clinch the championship with a round to spare. Entry list 2004 V8 Supercar Championship Series#Teams and drivers There were 32 drivers entered into the event. It featured mixture of vehicle models - fifteen BA Falcon's, sixteen VY Commodore's, and one VX Commodore. David Besnard returned to WPS Racing, taking back his drive from John McIntyre. Alex Yoong would be replaced by Owen Kelly for the remainder of the year. Steven Ellery Racing had lost Supercheap Auto sponsorship preceding this round and thus entered with a blank livery for the final two rounds. Alex Davison replaced Tony Longhurst at Rod Nash Racing for the remainder of the season. Race report Qualifying Pos No Driver Team Vehicle Time 1 22 AUS Todd Kelly Holden Racing Team Holden Commodore (VY) 52.2224 2 2 AUS Mark Skaife Holden Racing Team Holden Commodore (VY) 52.3551 3 15 AUS Rick Kelly John Kelly Racing Holden Commodore (VY) 52.3858 4 888 BRA Max Wilson Triple Eight Race Engineering Ford Falcon (BA) 52.4496 5 11 NZL Steven Richards Perkins Engineering Holden Commodore (VY) 52.4699 6 34 AUS Garth Tander Garry Rogers Motorsport Holden Commodore (VY) 52.4776 7 50 AUS Jason Bright Paul Weel Racing Holden Commodore (VY) 52.4963 8 1 AUS Marcos Ambrose Stone Brothers Racing Ford Falcon (BA) 52.5029 9 6 AUS Craig Lowndes Ford Performance Racing Ford Falcon (BA) 52.5036 10 51 NZL Greg Murphy John Kelly Racing Holden Commodore (VY) 52.5635 11 9 AUS Russell Ingall Stone Brothers Racing Ford Falcon (BA) 52.6413 12 5 AUS Glenn Seton Ford Performance Racing Ford Falcon (BA) 52.6630 13 18 AUS Warren Luff Dick Johnson Racing Ford Falcon (BA) 52.6769 14 44 NZL Simon Wills Team Dynamik Holden Commodore (VY) 52.6813 15 8 AUS Paul Dumbrell Perkins Engineering Holden Commodore (VY) 52.7379 16 21 AUS Brad Jones Brad Jones Racing Ford Falcon (BA) 52.7388 17 20 AUS Mark Winterbottom Larkham Motorsport Ford Falcon (BA) 52.7660 18 10 AUS Jason Bargwanna Larkham Motorsport Ford Falcon (BA) 52.7729 19 17 AUS Steven Johnson Dick Johnson Racing Ford Falcon (BA) 52.7963 20 29 AUS Paul Morris Paul Morris Motorsport Holden Commodore (VY) 52.8519 21 88 NZL Paul Radisich Triple Eight Race Engineering Ford Falcon (BA) 52.8790 22 31 AUS Steven Ellery Steven Ellery Racing Ford Falcon (BA) 52.8955 23 33 AUS Cameron McConville Garry Rogers Motorsport Holden Commodore (VY) 52.9076 24 3 NZL Jason Richards Tasman Motorsport Holden Commodore (VY) 52.9177 25 23 AUS David Besnard WPS Racing Ford Falcon (BA) 52.9459 26 16 AUS Paul Weel Paul Weel Racing Holden Commodore (VY) 52.9460 27 45 AUS Dale Brede Team Dynamik Holden Commodore (VY) 53.0258 28 021 NZL Craig Baird Team Kiwi Racing Holden Commodore (VY) 53.2328 29 7 AUS Alex Davison Rod Nash Racing Holden Commodore (VX) 53.3399 30 75 AUS Anthony Tratt Paul Little Racing Holden Commodore (VY) 53.3813 31 12 AUS John Bowe Brad Jones Racing Ford Falcon (BA) 53.4590 105% time - 54.8335 - 48 AUS Owen Kelly WPS Racing Ford Falcon (BA) no time Source:2004 V8 Supercars Launceston (Race 1) https://www.racingyears.com/race/2004_V8_Supercars_Launceston_(Race_1) 2026-09-26 Racing Years en-GB Top ten shootout Pos No Driver Team Vehicle Time 1 11 NZL Steven Richards Perkins Engineering Holden Commodore (VY) 52.9461 2 22 AUS Todd Kelly Holden Racing Team Holden Commodore (VY) 52.9598 3 2 AUS Mark Skaife Holden Racing Team Holden Commodore (VY) 52.9898 4 1 AUS Marcos Ambrose Stone Brothers Racing Ford Falcon (BA) 53.1813 5 15 AUS Rick Kelly John Kelly Racing Holden Commodore (VY) 53.2054 6 34 AUS Garth Tander Garry Rogers Motorsport Holden Commodore (VY) 53.2422 7 6 AUS Craig Lowndes Ford Performance Racing Ford Falcon (BA) 53.4483 8 51 NZL Greg Murphy John Kelly Racing Holden Commodore (VY) 53.6866 9 888 BRA Max Wilson Triple Eight Race Engineering Ford Falcon (BA) 54.3146 EXC 50 AUS Jason Bright Paul Weel Racing Holden Commodore (VY) time excluded Source: Race 1 Pos No Driver Team Car Laps Time/Retired Grid 1 15 AUS Rick Kelly John Kelly Racing Holden Commodore (VY) 42 38:16.1351 5 2 1 AUS Marcos Ambrose Stone Brothers Racing Ford Falcon (BA) 42 + 2.358 4 3 22 AUS Todd Kelly Holden Racing Team Holden Commodore (VY) 42 + 2.968 2 4 11 NZL Steven Richards Perkins Engineering Holden Commodore (VY) 42 + 4.157 1 5 34 AUS Garth Tander Garry Rogers Motorsport Holden Commodore (VY) 42 + 12.561 6 6 6 AUS Craig Lowndes Ford Performance Racing Ford Falcon (BA) 42 + 14.757 7 7 9 AUS Russell Ingall Stone Brothers Racing Ford Falcon (BA) 42 + 16.309 11 8 23 AUS David Besnard WPS Racing Ford Falcon (BA) 42 + 21.144 25 9 88 NZL Paul Radisich Triple Eight Race Engineering Ford Falcon (BA) 42 + 21.791 21 10 50 AUS Jason Bright Paul Weel Racing Holden Commodore (VY) 42 + 22.380 10 11 51 NZL Greg Murphy John Kelly Racing Holden Commodore (VY) 42 + 31.170 8 12 21 AUS Brad Jones Brad Jones Racing Ford Falcon (BA) 42 + 34.836 16 13 17 AUS Steven Johnson Dick Johnson Racing Ford Falcon (BA) 42 + 40.994 19 14 31 AUS Steven Ellery Steven Ellery Racing Ford Falcon (BA) 42 + 41.329 22 15 33 AUS Cameron McConville Garry Rogers Motorsport Holden Commodore (VY) 42 + 43.478 23 16 18 AUS Warren Luff Dick Johnson Racing Ford Falcon (BA) 42 + 45.900 13 17 12 AUS John Bowe Brad Jones Racing Ford Falcon (BA) 42 + 47.424 31 18 16 AUS Paul Weel Paul Weel Racing Holden Commodore (VY) 42 + 48.760 26 19 20 AUS Mark Winterbottom Larkham Motorsport Ford Falcon (BA) 42 + 49.041 17 20 7 AUS Alex Davison Rod Nash Racing Holden Commodore (VX) 42 + 49.699 29 21 75 AUS Anthony Tratt Paul Little Racing Holden Commodore (VY) 42 + 50.426 30 22 10 AUS Jason Bargwanna Larkham Motorsport Ford Falcon (BA) 42 + 52.748 18 23 48 AUS Owen Kelly WPS Racing Ford Falcon (BA) 41 + 1 lap 32 24 8 AUS Paul Dumbrell Perkins Engineering Holden Commodore (VY) 41 + 1 lap 15 25 3 NZL Jason Richards Tasman Motorsport Holden Commodore (VY) 41 + 1 lap 24 26 888 BRA Max Wilson Triple Eight Race Engineering Ford Falcon (BA) 41 + 1 lap 9 27 021 NZL Craig Baird Team Kiwi Racing Holden Commodore (VY) 41 + 1 lap 28 28 5 AUS Glenn Seton Ford Performance Racing Ford Falcon (BA) 41 + 1 lap 12 Ret 2 AUS Mark Skaife Holden Racing Team Holden Commodore (VY) 36 Spun off 3 Ret 45 AUS Dale Brede Team Dynamik Holden Commodore (VY) 17 Mechanical 27 Ret 44 NZL Simon Wills Team Dynamik Holden Commodore (VY) 11 Engine 14 Ret 29 AUS Paul Morris Paul Morris Motorsport Holden Commodore (VY) 0 Accident damage 20 Fastest Lap: Garth Tander (Garry Rogers Motorsport) - 52.8140 on lap 9 Source: Race 2 Pos No Driver Team Car Laps Time/Retired Grid 1 1 AUS Marcos Ambrose Stone Brothers Racing Ford Falcon (BA) 42 40:46.9976 2 2 15 AUS Rick Kelly John Kelly Racing Holden Commodore (VY) 42 + 1.763 1 3 22 AUS Todd Kelly Holden Racing Team Holden Commodore (VY) 42 + 2.057 3 4 51 NZL Greg Murphy John Kelly Racing Holden Commodore (VY) 42 + 3.600 11 5 9 AUS Russell Ingall Stone Brothers Racing Ford Falcon (BA) 42 + 4.023 7 6 6 AUS Craig Lowndes Ford Performance Racing Ford Falcon (BA) 42 + 4.432 6 7 33 AUS Cameron McConville Garry Rogers Motorsport Holden Commodore (VY) 42 + 5.133 15 8 31 AUS Steven Ellery Steven Ellery Racing Ford Falcon (BA) 42 + 9.658 14 9 21 AUS Brad Jones Brad Jones Racing Ford Falcon (BA) 42 + 11.496 12 10 17 AUS Steven Johnson Dick Johnson Racing Ford Falcon (BA) 42 + 13.224 13 11 10 AUS Jason Bargwanna Larkham Motorsport Ford Falcon (BA) 42 + 16.022 22 12 18 AUS Warren Luff Dick Johnson Racing Ford Falcon (BA) 42 + 16.470 16 13 11 NZL Steven Richards Perkins Engineering Holden Commodore (VY) 42 + 17.710 4 14 12 AUS John Bowe Brad Jones Racing Ford Falcon (BA) 42 + 18.284 17 15 888 BRA Max Wilson Triple Eight Race Engineering Ford Falcon (BA) 42 + 18.705 26 16 44 NZL Simon Wills Team Dynamik Holden Commodore (VY) 42 + 19.146 31 17 20 AUS Mark Winterbottom Larkham Motorsport Ford Falcon (BA) 42 + 19.530 19 18 45 AUS Dale Brede Team Dynamik Holden Commodore (VY) 42 + 20.175 30 19 5 AUS Glenn Seton Ford Performance Racing Ford Falcon (BA) 42 + 20.461 28 20 7 AUS Alex Davison Rod Nash Racing Holden Commodore (VX) 42 + 22.532 20 21 88 NZL Paul Radisich Triple Eight Race Engineering Ford Falcon (BA) 42 + 23.927 9 22 48 AUS Owen Kelly WPS Racing Ford Falcon (BA) 42 + 24.518 23 23 8 AUS Paul Dumbrell Perkins Engineering Holden Commodore (VY) 42 + 25.587 24 24 50 AUS Jason Bright Paul Weel Racing Holden Commodore (VY) 42 + 33.470 10 25 3 NZL Jason Richards Tasman Motorsport Holden Commodore (VY) 41 + 1 lap 25 26 75 AUS Anthony Tratt Paul Little Racing Holden Commodore (VY) 41 + 1 lap 21 27 16 AUS Paul Weel Paul Weel Racing Holden Commodore (VY) 41 + 1 lap 18 28 34 AUS Garth Tander Garry Rogers Motorsport Holden Commodore (VY) 41 + 1 lap 5 29 23 AUS David Besnard WPS Racing Ford Falcon (BA) 38 + 4 laps 8 30 29 AUS Paul Morris Paul Morris Motorsport Holden Commodore (VY) 36 + 6 laps 32 Ret 2 AUS Mark Skaife Holden Racing Team Holden Commodore (VY) 33 Accident damage 29 Ret 021 NZL Craig Baird Team Kiwi Racing Holden Commodore (VY) 21 Mechanical 27 Fastest Lap: Todd Kelly (Holden Racing Team) - 52.7395 on lap 6 Source:2004 V8 Supercars Launceston (Race 2) https://www.racingyears.com/race/2004_V8_Supercars_Launceston_(Race_2) 2026-09-26 Racing Years en-GB Race 3 Pos No Driver Team Car Laps Time/Retired Grid 1 23 AUS David Besnard WPS Racing Ford Falcon (BA) 41 49:52.1890 29 2 50 AUS Jason Bright Paul Weel Racing Holden Commodore (VY) 41 + 0.572 24 3 2 AUS Mark Skaife Holden Racing Team Holden Commodore (VY) 41 + 1.102 31 4 51 NZL Greg Murphy John Kelly Racing Holden Commodore (VY) 41 + 39.959 4 5 9 AUS Russell Ingall Stone Brothers Racing Ford Falcon (BA) 41 + 40.335 5 6 11 NZL Steven Richards Perkins Engineering Holden Commodore (VY) 41 + 40.763 13 7 33 AUS Cameron McConville Garry Rogers Motorsport Holden Commodore (VY) 41 + 43.464 7 8 17 AUS Steven Johnson Dick Johnson Racing Ford Falcon (BA) 41 + 43.849 10 9 18 AUS Warren Luff Dick Johnson Racing Ford Falcon (BA) 41 + 44.202 12 10 31 AUS Steven Ellery Steven Ellery Racing Ford Falcon (BA) 41 + 44.599 8 11 20 AUS Mark Winterbottom Larkham Motorsport Ford Falcon (BA) 41 + 44.934 17 12 44 NZL Simon Wills Team Dynamik Holden Commodore (VY) 41 + 46.670 16 13 6 AUS Craig Lowndes Ford Performance Racing Ford Falcon (BA) 41 + 47.429 6 14 88 NZL Paul Radisich Triple Eight Race Engineering Ford Falcon (BA) 41 + 48.364 21 15 888 BRA Max Wilson Triple Eight Race Engineering Ford Falcon (BA) 41 + 48.611 15 16 12 AUS John Bowe Brad Jones Racing Ford Falcon (BA) 41 + 49.719 14 17 5 AUS Glenn Seton Ford Performance Racing Ford Falcon (BA) 41 + 50.090 19 18 48 AUS Owen Kelly WPS Racing Ford Falcon (BA) 41 + 50.808 22 19 29 AUS Paul Morris Paul Morris Motorsport Holden Commodore (VY) 41 + 52.486 30 20 3 NZL Jason Richards Tasman Motorsport Holden Commodore (VY) 41 + 52.858 25 21 10 AUS Jason Bargwanna Larkham Motorsport Ford Falcon (BA) 40 + 1 lap 11 22 75 AUS Anthony Tratt Paul Little Racing Holden Commodore (VY) 40 + 1 lap 26 23 8 AUS Paul Dumbrell Perkins Engineering Holden Commodore (VY) 40 + 1 lap 23 24 21 AUS Brad Jones Brad Jones Racing Ford Falcon (BA) 40 + 1 lap 9 25 45 AUS Dale Brede Team Dynamik Holden Commodore (VY) 39 + 2 laps 18 Ret 15 AUS Rick Kelly John Kelly Racing Holden Commodore (VY) 25 Spun off 2 Ret 1 AUS Marcos Ambrose Stone Brothers Racing Ford Falcon (BA) 23 Engine 1 Ret 7 AUS Alex Davison Rod Nash Racing Holden Commodore (VX) 22 Accident damage 20 Ret 22 AUS Todd Kelly Holden Racing Team Holden Commodore (VY) 9 Engine 3 Ret 16 AUS Paul Weel Paul Weel Racing Holden Commodore (VY) 9 Accident 27 Ret 34 AUS Garth Tander Garry Rogers Motorsport Holden Commodore (VY) 0 Mechanical 28 DNS 021 NZL Craig Baird Team Kiwi Racing Holden Commodore (VY) Did not start Fastest Lap: Todd Kelly (Holden Racing Team) - 52.8062 on lap 7 Source:2004 V8 Supercars Launceston (Race 3) https://www.racingyears.com/race/2004_V8_Supercars_Launceston_(Race_3) 2026-09-26 Racing Years en-GB Championship standings Pos. Position No Driver Team Pts Points 10px 1 1 AUS Marcos Ambrose Stone Brothers Racing 1982 10px 2 51 NZL Greg Murphy John Kelly Racing 1825 10px 3 50 AUS Jason Bright Paul Weel Racing 1816 10px 4 9 AUS Russell Ingall Stone Brothers Racing 1776 10px 5 15 AUS Rick Kelly John Kelly Racing 1701 References Tasmania Supercars round 2004 2004 V8 Supercar Challenge 2004 V8 Supercars Grand Finale 1999 V8 Supercars Launceston round 2005 Tasmania Triple Challenge Launceston