CAT Racing Queensland Raceway preview

Twelve months ago John Bowe and the Cat Racing team entered the record books at the Queensland Raceway sprint round for the shortest amount of time taken for a new team to earn a pole position and win its first race.

That was 1999, but for 2000 Bowe is keen to return to the Ipswich circuit and repeat that effort.

After strong performances at the Clipsal 500 and Eastern Creek rounds, the Cat team has suffered shocking luck at the past two rounds of the championship.

Queensland Raceway however, could be the turning point for the local team.

"We had a great run here last year, but that doesn't always mean you are going to have a good run this year," Bowe said.

"Our luck has gone out the window in the past two rounds, but the thing that has kept our heads high is the fact we know the car is fast.

"We just have to keep working hard to turn things around."

Queensland Raceway is a tricky circuit to find a good set-up for but I am certain we are more than capable of repeating what we achieved here last year - but it is not going to fall into our lap, we have to work hard to achieve it."

Bowe believes the Cat team is not far away from breaking through for its first win in 2000.

"A lot of guys have had their 'day in the sun' this year. Look at Craig Baird at Phillip Island, Paul Radisich at Eastern Creek or Steven Richards at Canberra ... you just have to get everything right on the day," Bowe said.

"The hard part is to be like HRT and do it every week - that is another tough ask.

"We have been robbed of some good results by 20 cent failures this year, but you can't sulk about it, you just have to make sure you up the effort because if you stand still in this competition, you are going to go backwards at a great rate of knots.

"The level of competition is improving every year and everybody is forced to raise their game.

"Queensland Raceway is our home track now and we would love to come away with a good result for the fans."

<pre> QUEENSLAND RACEWAY RECORD:

1999 Ford Falcon AU Grid: Pole Heat 1: 11th Heat 2: 7th Heat 3: 1st Round: 5th

1999 Qld 500 Ford Falcon AU with Jim Richards Grid: 11th Result: 18th

CALENDAR: July 16 - Winton July 30 - Oran Park August 20 - Calder September 10 - Qld 500 October 8 - Sandown October 12-15 - Surfers Indy November 16-19 - Bathurst