Super Cheap Auto Racing's Steve Ellery was making his way back through the field after a pit stop when he unexpecteღdly went aquaplaning off the track after coming into contact with an on-track oil slick left by Steven Johnson's Falcon.

Johnson'ꦇs BA blew an engine leaving oil at the end of the straight.

"I hit the oil and slid off the track, it was that simple," sa🐬id Ellery. "I went into the sand pretty quick and I was concerned that I might hit someone, fortunately that didn't happen cause🔯 it could have caused a lot of damage.

"I got bogged which was frustrating, but the worst thing was that I was ♍starting to get back into t🍃he race."

With in-car communications d𓂃own following the off, Ellery was able to drive back into the pits where he told his team that he wanted to c🥃ontinue.

"I came to Eastern Creek to race and I thought that it was important to finish, it's important for the tea🔯m, the sponsors and the fans." Ellery continued.

"If I'd been unable to complete the race because of car damage sustained in the off thꦗen that's out of my hands, but the Ford seemed to be alright.

"There was obviously a lot of sand filling up the radiator but it ꦍemptied pretty qu🔜ickly, and showed no side-effects, so I resumed.

"It's al🍷ways goodꦇ to finish the season in the car as opposed to watching it from the pits."

Ellery finished the race in 23rd place.

Ellery is going into the🌞 off-season already planning for 2004.

"The 2004 season starts tomorrow," Ellery said. "We have set the foundations this year for a strong season neไxt year.

"Bathurst and Sandown were tremendous and we were so close in several other races, the𝓰 future for 🌼Super Cheap Auto Racing is looking good.

"We'll have the same committed team and we'll make further technical improvements that will see us reach the potential that we have hinted at so frequently over🅰 the season.

"I'm going to enjoy some hard earned time off and then it's straig🌳ht into it. There's no reason why next year can't be ourཧ most exciting ever."

Ellery was full of praise for Marcos Ambrose, who won the V8 title today, and for Fo꧃rd.

"Marcos has performed fantastically thไis year, he has worked so hard for this amazing achievement and I am extremely happy for him and his team," Ellery said.

"It's also terrific to see the blue oval at the top again, it's been a long time comi▨ng.

"I'm very proud to be able to say that I drive for Ford. We are a close family and everyone will 🐭enjoy this time."