News: Russell Ingall and Clipsal 500 to share birthdays this Sunday

Russell Ingall celebrates his 44th birthday this Sunday, but the 2005 V8 Supercar Champion has warned that another year ticking over does not mean his competitors can expect it easy from the Enforcer.

Ingall, who signed with Paul Morris' new Supercheap Auto Racing team in December, crossing back to Holden after five years with Ford, is sharing his birthday with the 10th anniversary Clipsal 500. He says he is eagerly looking forward to the season's opening race.

"The off-season's all over and done with, so now it's time to stop talking and just get on with it. I'm looking forward Clipsal more than my birthday," Ingall said.

"You can't stop getting older, that's life. You can only hope and plan for the best, and the best birthday present I could wish for is to come out of the box and win straight up in Adelaide.

"When I first joined Stone Brothers, I went out at the Grand Prix without too many laps under my belt in their car and won straight up. Sometimes jumping into a foreign atmosphere without too many preconceptions is better, you just do ‘it' rather than thing about things too much.

"The situation's the same now and I'm hoping for a little déjà vu this weekend - we've worked hard enough for it."

Ingall said he was delighted with his decision to join Morris' Gold Coast-based team. "There were a few sceptics when [the move] was announced, but I did my homework before signing. Paul's been building up the team over the past few years and he wants to play with the big boys.

"All the ingredients are in place; we've got great sponsor support with Supercheap Auto, Holden, Castrol and Sirromet, the equipment and technology within the race shop's walls can't be rivalled ,and the guys behind the scene are great - a real mixture of youth and experience. Paul's also given me a lot of freedom to help take the team to the next level.

"The cars are very, very neat and ran faultlessly at last week's test. The team did a tremendous job getting two shiny new Commodores ready and they fired up straight out of the truck - that's always a good sign.

"We only did a half day and didn't do anywhere near as many laps as the other teams, but we were down to the times they were all doing before they all went to new tyres.

"Everything's coming together nicely and I'm really comfortable with where it's at." Morris said Ingall brought much more than driving ability to the Supercheap Auto Racing team.

"Russell and I have raced against each other for nearly 20 years and I don't think I've ever been more excited than I am now with having him as my team-mate," Morris said.

"He's much more than just a driver; he's pro-active and wants to get involved in the business - not only on the commercial side with our sponsors, but also in the sporting and technical aspects of it. He's passionate and cares about the team like I do and that can only be good."

The Clipsal 500 begins in Adelaide on Thursday, 21 February and runs through to Sunday. The new Supercheap Auto Racing team hits the track for the first time in practice Friday morning.