New Falcon as WPS confirms pairings.

Max Wilson and Michael Caruso will debut a brand new #8 WOW Racing BF Falcon at the Just Car Insurance 500 at Sandown International Raceway this weekend as the V8 Supercar series' endurance phase gets underway.

The duo tested the car, built by WPS/WOW Racing at its Gold Coast workshop, at Queensland Raceway last Thursday in a final test before the Sandown event and reported good signs from the new machine. While wet weather prevented the team from pushing for speed and lap times, the feedback from drivers and engineers was all positive, giving the WPS/WOW Racing a positive outlook on this weekend's race.

The car features new developments from technical director and renowned touring car engineer Paul Ceprnich, who joined the team at the beginning of the 2007 season, together with continued engine development from Craig Hasted and his team.

"There is a lot of potential in our new car and I think that we can unlock more speed out of it over the next two endurance races at Sandown and Bathurst," Wilson commented, "I have to mention the team's efforts in preparing this car for Sandown. A lot of hard work goes into getting a brand new car ready between rounds, but the whole crew has been really excited and working hard to get the job done.

"Our test day last Thursday was pretty much a shakedown, as the weather was rainy so track conditions did not allow us to stretch the new car's legs at all. We ran through the car and made sure everything was in order. As we get to know the new WOW car I think we can definitely get an improvement in speed and I think that over the course of the next two races we should see that. Our cars have been steadily improving all year and this new WOW car is the next step in our team's development.

"Sandown was a good round for us last year and it's a circuit where we have the potential to do well because we have such great engines from Craig Hasted and all his guys. Paul Ceprnich and our engineers have been getting our cars faster and faster all year and our pit stops have been great over the last couple of rounds, so I think we have the potential for a good weekend at Sandown."

The announcement also confirms WPS' pairings for the endurance races, with V8 regular Wilson suiting up alongside Caruso in the #8, while Jason Bargwanna and Grant Denyer share the #10 WPS-backed Falcon.

Caruso makes only his second main series V8 Supercar start, but currently lies second in the second-tier Fujitsu series, where he has two rounds wins from five events this season.

"It's going to be a pretty big Sandown 500 debut for me this weekend," he said, "Being handed the responsibility of driving with Max and driving the new WOW car is a big deal and I will be doing everything I can to repay the team's faith in me by doing a solid job.

"Sandown is a track where the team had good pace last year. I have not driven a V8 Supercar around there but have raced a F3 car there and like the layout. Max and I have worked well together in testing and the WPS/WOW Racing team are a great bunch of guys to work with, so I'm definitely excited about this weekend. The new car felt good in testing and I think there is a lot of potential there. It's been good to work with the crew over the past few weeks as they have been getting the new car ready and Max and I will be looking to reward all their hard work with a top result."

One day ahead of his birthday, Denyer reckons he has been given the best opportunity of his V8 Supercar career after being paired for the first time with a full-time V8 pilot in the endurance events.

"Driving with Jason Bargwanna in the WPS car at Sandown and Bathurst this year is an enormous opportunity," he said, "I've certainly never got a birthday present like this before! To drive with a former Bathurst winner and one of the most experienced drivers in the championship creates a lot of pressure, but also means I have a good chance of a top result at Sandown and Bathurst.

"This is only my second crack at the endurance events, which are just about the toughest races on the V8 Supercar schedule. I certainly have a lot to learn, but being paired with a driver like Bargs will be a massive help. I think even seeing how he goes about the lead-up to the race and working with the team is something I'm looking forward to soaking up and learning from.

"Last year, I drove in a team's second car with another part-time driver. It was an incredible opportunity, we had a good car and we had a great result with a top ten at Bathurst. But this year is something different. WPS/WOW Racing has put its trust in me to drive with Bargs, one of the team's full-time drivers and a guy who has won the biggest race there is in this country. I am going to be doing everything I can to repay their faith in me."