2003 V8 Supercars Phillip Island round

2003 Supercar Championship event Victoria 2003 Phillip Island V8 Supercar round 2 13 2003 V8SC Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit.svg 11-13 April Phillip Island, Victoria Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit Overcast evolving to heavy rain 54 238 Mark Skaife Holden Racing Team 1:33.5994 Craig Lowndes Ford Performance Racing 1:37:39.1273 Craig Lowndes Ford Performance Racing 192 Jason Bright Paul Weel Racing 186 Greg Murphy Tom Walkinshaw Racing Australia 180 The 2003 Phillip Island V8 Supercar round was the second round of the 2003 V8 Supercar Championship Series. It was held on the weekend of 11 to 13 April at the Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit in Victoria, Australia. The race was scheduled for 67 laps at a distance of 300 kilometers. Heavy rain toward the end of the race made track conditions treacherous, and the stewards made the decision to end the race on lap 54, 13 laps short of the scheduled 67 lap distance. Craig Lowndes had elected to undertake his compulsory pitstops late into the race, allowing him to switch to wet weather tyres without need for an additional pitstop. This gave Lowndes his first round win as a factory Ford driver and gave Ford Performance Racing their first race and round victory in the V8 Supercar category since their formation at the start of the season.2014-11-08 Saturday Sleuthing: Craig's FPR Island winner https://www.supercars.com/news/saturday-sleuthing-craig-s-fpr-island-winner 2026-09-17 Supercars en-AU Jason Bright finished in second, despite being at the center of a controversial late race incident with Marcos Ambrose, and Greg Murphy rounded out the podium.2003-04-13 Lowndes takes out damp Supercar battle https://www.abc.net.au/news/2003-04-13/lowndes-takes-out-damp-supercar-battle/1836526 2026-09-17 ABC News Australia en-AU Bright's second placing allowed him to usurp Skaife at the top of the driver standings heading into the next round at Eastern Creek. The V8 Supercar series would not return to Phillip Island for 2004, with the calendar slot vacated in anticipation of a round in Shanghai. While the Shanghai round would not eventuate until 2005, Phillip Island would return to the schedule as the season finale that same year.2003-09-11 Phillip Island dumped as V8 venue https://www.smh.com.au/national/phillip-island-dumped-as-v8-venue-20030911-gdhdd0.html 2026-09-17 The Sydney Morning Herald en-AU Background The event was held on the weekend of 11 to 13 April 2003. It was the 12th ATCC/V8 Supercar event to be held at the Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit and consisted of one 300 km race with two compulsory pitstops for fuel and tyres. Entry list 2003 V8 Supercar Championship Series#Teams and drivers There were 33 drivers entered into the event. It featured mixture of vehicle models - eight AU Ford Falcon's, eleven BA Falcon's, five VY Commodore's, and nine VX Commodore's. Paul Romano was the only entrant from the previous round in Adelaide who did not return to the grid. Race report Qualifying Mark Skaife claimed provisional pole position with a time three hundredths of a second faster than nearest competitor, Marcos Ambrose. Russell Ingall did not take part in the session after sustaining heavy damage to his car after crashing at turn two in practice. David Thexton failed to qualify for the event after setting a time below the 105% threshold.2003-04-12 Skaife fastest as Holden dominates top 10 at Phillip Island https://www.abc.net.au/news/2003-04-12/skaife-fastest-as-holden-dominates-top-10-at/1835604 2026-09-17 ABC News Australia en-AU2003-04-13 Skaife heads same V8 trio https://www.theage.com.au/sport/motorsport/skaife-heads-same-v8-trio-20030413-gdvjaw.html 2026-09-17 The Age en-AU Pos No Driver Team Vehicle Time 1 1 AUS Mark Skaife Holden Racing Team Holden Commodore (VY) 1:33.6884 2 4 AUS Marcos Ambrose Stone Brothers Racing Ford Falcon (BA) 1:33.7179 3 50 AUS Jason Bright Paul Weel Racing Holden Commodore (VX) 1:33.7311 4 2 AUS Todd Kelly Holden Racing Team Holden Commodore (VY) 1:33.9172 5 6 AUS Craig Lowndes Ford Performance Racing Ford Falcon (BA) 1:33.9195 6 51 NZL Greg Murphy Tom Walkinshaw Racing Australia Holden Commodore (VX) 1:34.0453 7 888 AUS John Bowe Brad Jones Racing Ford Falcon (BA) 1:34.1046 8 11 NZL Steven Richards Perkins Engineering Holden Commodore (VX) 1:34.1495 9 34 AUS Garth Tander Garry Rogers Motorsport Holden Commodore (VY) 1:34.2578 10 16 AUS Paul Weel Paul Weel Racing Holden Commodore (VX) 1:34.2883 11 44 NZL Simon Wills Team Dynamik Holden Commodore (VY) 1:34.2885 12 21 AUS Brad Jones Brad Jones Racing Ford Falcon (BA) 1:34.3471 13 15 AUS Rick Kelly Tom Walkinshaw Racing Australia Holden Commodore (VX) 1:34.4206 14 3 AUS Cameron McConville Lansvale Racing Team Holden Commodore (VX) 1:34.4482 15 18 BRA Max Wilson Dick Johnson Racing Ford Falcon (BA) 1:34.5558 16 5 AUS Glenn Seton Ford Performance Racing Ford Falcon (AU) 1:34.6031 17 00 AUS Greg Ritter 00 Motorsport Ford Falcon (BA) 1:34.6699 18 45 NZL Jason Richards Team Dynamik Holden Commodore (VY) 1:34.7122 19 65 NZL Paul Radisich Briggs Motorsport Ford Falcon (BA) 1:34.7316 20 66 AUS Dean Canto Briggs Motorsport Ford Falcon (BA) 1:34.7353 21 31 AUS Steven Ellery Steven Ellery Racing Ford Falcon (BA) 1:34.8170 22 8 AUS Paul Dumbrell Perkins Engineering Holden Commodore (VX) 1:34.9900 23 19 AUS David Besnard Rod Nash Racing Ford Falcon (AU) 1:35.0856 24 29 AUS Paul Morris Paul Morris Motorsport Holden Commodore (VY) 1:35.3197 25 17 AUS Steven Johnson Dick Johnson Racing Ford Falcon (BA) 1:35.3332 26 33 AUS Jamie Whincup Garry Rogers Motorsport Holden Commodore (VX) 1:35.3738 27 20 AUS Jason Bargwanna Larkham Motorsport Ford Falcon (AU) 1:35.4221 28 23 AUS Mark Noske Noske Motorsport Ford Falcon (AU) 1:35.6234 29 10 AUS Mark Larkham Larkham Motorsport Ford Falcon (AU) 1:35.6293 30 7 AUS Rodney Forbes 00 Motorsport Ford Falcon (AU) 1:35.6970 31 75 AUS Anthony Tratt Paul Little Racing Ford Falcon (AU) 1:35.7864 32 021 NZL Craig Baird Team Kiwi Racing Holden Commodore (VX) 1:35.8393 DNQ 99 NZL David Thexton Thexton Motor Racing Ford Falcon (AU) 1:38.6432 9 AUS Russell Ingall Stone Brothers Racing Ford Falcon (BA) no time Source:2003 V8 Supercars Philip Island https://www.racingyears.com/race/2003_V8_Supercars_Philip_Island 2026-09-17 Racing Years en-GB Top ten shootout Skaife successfully converted his provisional pole position in the shootout, setting a time nearly four tenths faster than teammate and nearest competitor, Todd Kelly.2003-04-13 Skaife blitzes Supercar qualifying https://www.abc.net.au/news/2003-04-13/skaife-blitzes-supercar-qualifying/1835762 2026-09-17 ABC News Australia en-AU Pos No Driver Team Vehicle Time 1 1 AUS Mark Skaife Holden Racing Team Holden Commodore (VY) 1:33.5994 2 2 AUS Todd Kelly Holden Racing Team Holden Commodore (VY) 1:33.9104 3 4 AUS Marcos Ambrose Stone Brothers Racing Ford Falcon (BA) 1:33.9131 4 50 AUS Jason Bright Paul Weel Racing Holden Commodore (VX) 1:34.0101 5 51 NZL Greg Murphy Tom Walkinshaw Racing Australia Holden Commodore (VX) 1:34.4169 6 6 AUS Craig Lowndes Ford Performance Racing Ford Falcon (BA) 1:34.5677 7 888 AUS John Bowe Brad Jones Racing Ford Falcon (BA) 1:34.8144 8 11 NZL Steven Richards Perkins Engineering Holden Commodore (VX) 1:34.9543 9 16 AUS Paul Weel Paul Weel Racing Holden Commodore (VX) 1:35.7069 10 34 AUS Garth Tander Garry Rogers Motorsport Holden Commodore (VY) 1:35.8296 Source: Race The race started off in dry conditions, but there was a great chance of rain as dark cloud loomed overhead. Skaife retained the lead heading into turn one with Bright filing in behind for second. At the conclusion of lap one, Skaife had established a lead of 1.3 seconds over Bright. David Besnard was an early casualty of the race after suffering from a clutch plate issue. Paul Weel was among the first to complete a compulsory pitstop on lap eight in response to a rear wheel rubbing on the guard. By lap ten, the first reports of rain were issued. Steven Ellery began to suffer from a broken exhaust which stunted the cars bottom-end power and his overall pace was strained. Max Wilson and Paul Morris tangled at the turn four hairpin, sending Wilson off into the runoff. Bright made his first pitstop on lap 21 for fuel while Skaife made his pitstop on lap 26. The Holden Racing Team managed to complete the stop fast enough for Skaife to emerge back ahead of Bright. However, he would be issued a drive-through penalty for speed in the pitlane. A couple laps after undertaking the penalty, Skaife spun Greg Murphy at MG after attempting an overtake. Ford Performance Racing kept Lowndes out until lap 36 before they pitted him for his fuel stop. Cameron McConville retired from the race on lap 22 after experiencing an engine failure. On lap 39, Skaife completed his second compulsory stop for tyres. By lap 44, the threat of rain was growing. The circuit helicopter had been grounded due to the threat of lightning and teams were beginning to look skyward for the impending downpour. While Bright and Lowndes were first and second on the road, the first driver to have completed both pitstops was Marcos Ambrose. By lap 46, the rain had begun to change the condition of the track and drivers began to pit for wet weather tyres, the first being Garth Tander and Glenn Seton. One lap later, Lowndes and Jason Bright followed suit, and in the process, completed their second compulsory pitstops for tyres. Toward the end of lap 49, on the approach to the pit entry, Bright and Ambrose made contact as the latter attempted to enter the pits while the former was attempting an overtake. The two cars continued side-by-side beyond the lane with Bright's car in the grass before further contact sent Ambrose into a spin at the final corner. Bright readdressed the situation and gave track position back to Ambrose. This brought Lowndes right up into the leading battle and soon assumed the lead itself after damage to the front-left suspension halted Bright's pace. Ambrose ran off the road at turn two and was barely able to escape the gravel trap to return to the track. Soon after, the deluge began to catch other drivers out. Paul Dumbrell spun off at turn three and became beached in the gravel trap. With the driving conditions becoming treacherous, even on a wet tyre, the safety car was deployed. After a few laps behind the safety car, the decision was made to declare the race at lap 54. This gave Lowndes his first overall round victory for as a Ford driver and Ford Performance Racing's first race and round victory in the V8 Supercar category. Podium celebrations were annulled due to the inclement weather. Pos No Driver Team Car Laps Time/Retired Grid 1 6 AUS Craig Lowndes Ford Performance Racing Ford Falcon (BA) 54 01:37:39.1273 6 2 50 AUS Jason Bright Paul Weel Racing Holden Commodore (VX) 54 + 4.610 4 3 51 NZL Greg Murphy Tom Walkinshaw Racing Australia Holden Commodore (VX) 54 + 5.812 5 4 34 AUS Garth Tander Garry Rogers Motorsport Holden Commodore (VY) 54 + 10.350 10 5 2 AUS Todd Kelly Holden Racing Team Holden Commodore (VY) 54 + 13.717 2 6 1 AUS Mark Skaife Holden Racing Team Holden Commodore (VY) 54 + 15.898 1 7 11 NZL Steven Richards Perkins Engineering Holden Commodore (VX) 54 + 19.513 8 8 16 AUS Paul Weel Paul Weel Racing Holden Commodore (VX) 54 + 20.252 9 9 5 AUS Glenn Seton Ford Performance Racing Ford Falcon (AU) 54 + 23.536 16 10 9 AUS Russell Ingall Stone Brothers Racing Ford Falcon (BA) 54 + 25.054 33 11 15 AUS Rick Kelly Tom Walkinshaw Racing Australia Holden Commodore (VX) 54 + 25.946 13 12 65 NZL Paul Radisich Briggs Motorsport Ford Falcon (BA) 54 + 33.415 19 13 29 AUS Paul Morris Paul Morris Motorsport Holden Commodore (VY) 54 + 34.188 24 14 00 AUS Greg Ritter 00 Motorsport Ford Falcon (BA) 54 + 35.641 17 15 21 AUS Brad Jones Brad Jones Racing Ford Falcon (BA) 54 + 38.848 12 16 18 BRA Max Wilson Dick Johnson Racing Ford Falcon (BA) 54 + 40.221 15 17 4 AUS Marcos Ambrose Stone Brothers Racing Ford Falcon (BA) 53 + 1 lap 3 18 17 AUS Steven Johnson Dick Johnson Racing Ford Falcon (BA) 53 + 1 lap 25 19 021 NZL Craig Baird Team Kiwi Racing Holden Commodore (VX) 53 + 1 lap 32 20 31 AUS Steven Ellery Steven Ellery Racing Ford Falcon (BA) 53 + 1 lap 21 21 888 AUS John Bowe Brad Jones Racing Ford Falcon (BA) 53 + 1 lap 7 22 44 NZL Simon Wills Team Dynamik Holden Commodore (VY) 53 + 1 lap 11 23 10 AUS Mark Larkham Larkham Motorsport Ford Falcon (AU) 53 + 1 lap 29 24 75 AUS Anthony Tratt Paul Little Racing Ford Falcon (AU) 53 + 1 lap 31 25 33 AUS Jamie Whincup Garry Rogers Motorsport Holden Commodore (VX) 53 + 1 lap 26 26 20 AUS Jason Bargwanna Larkham Motorsport Ford Falcon (AU) 53 + 1 lap 27 27 7 AUS Rodney Forbes 00 Motorsport Ford Falcon (AU) 53 + 1 lap 30 28 45 NZL Jason Richards Team Dynamik Holden Commodore (VY) 53 + 1 lap 18 29 66 AUS Dean Canto Briggs Motorsport Ford Falcon (BA) 53 + 1 lap 20 30 23 AUS Mark Noske Noske Motorsport Ford Falcon (AU) 52 + 2 laps 28 31 8 AUS Paul Dumbrell Perkins Engineering Holden Commodore (VX) 52 + 2 laps 22 Ret 3 AUS Cameron McConville Lansvale Racing Team Holden Commodore (VX) 22 Engine 14 Ret 19 AUS David Besnard Rod Nash Racing Ford Falcon (AU) 1 Clutch 23 DNQ 99 NZL David Thexton Thexton Motor Racing Ford Falcon (AU) Did not qualify Fastest Lap: Mark Skaife (Holden Racing Team) - 1:35.0896 on lap 9 Source: Championship standings Pos. Position No Driver Team Pts Points 10px 1 50 AUS Jason Bright Paul Weel Racing 357 10px 2 1 AUS Mark Skaife Holden Racing Team 351 10px 3 2 AUS Todd Kelly Holden Racing Team 336 10px 4 11 NZL Steven Richards Perkins Engineering 336 10px 5 51 NZL Greg Murphy Tom Walkinshaw Racing Australia 315 References Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit 2003 2003 Adelaide 500 2003 V8 Supercars Eastern Creek round 2002 V8 Supercars Phillip Island round 2005 V8 Supercars Phillip Island round Phillip Island Category:Motorsport at Phillip Island