Ford Falcon V8 Supercar set to roll
4 Jun, 2008
41 Comments 
Ford fans will get their first look at the all new FG Falcon based V8 Supercar racer this weekend when the car goes on show at Melbourne’s Sandown Raceway.
Ford has announced that the car, code named FG01, will be rolled out of the Ford Performance Racing workshops in Broadmeadows for the Midas 400 race weekend at Sandown.
Based on Ford’s recently launched FG Falcon XR8 sedan road car, the new Blue Oval weapon will feature a striking ‘Nitro’ blue with white themed livery.
The FG01 prototype will reside in pit lane for the duration of the event, from where Team Vodafone driver and V8 Supercar Champion Craig Lowndes will steer the new race car on a number of demonstration laps of the twisty 3.1 kilometre track.
Channel Seven pit reporter Grant Denyer will be riding as passenger, giving the V8 Supercar world a glimpse of Ford’s future in the sport.
“There has been a lot of excitement at Ford surrounding the launch of the new FG Falcon road-going series, and that excitement has certainly extended to the development of our new race car,” said Ford Racing Manager, Ray Price.
“Our new V8 Supercar has been in development for over 18 months, and it is great that we have been able to get FG01 out on the track so quickly off the back of revealing the new model Falcons.
“Ford’s V8 Supercar teams have been invaluable in having the car we have numbered FG01 ready for a mid-year homologation.”
FPR, Triple 8 (T8) and Stone Brothers Racing (SBR) played a pivotal role in building the FG test car which is called T2 internally – T1 was the test car for the currently raced BA/BF V8 Supercar model.”
“FG01 signifies a fresh look for the Fords, the best way to describe it is that it’s much more aggressive, I think everyone will be really pleased,” said FPR Team Principle Tim Edwards.
As the official Ford homologation team, Triple 8 has been involved in the development of FG01 and they are responsible for technical compliance of the vehicle within the TEGA ‘Blueprint specification’.
Additionally T8 contributed its aerodynamic expertise, designing and supplying components for testing.
Stone Brothers Racing (SBR) assisted with various technical elements of design and integration
“A mid-season homologation will ensure Ford teams are awarded the maximum amount of preparation time for when we’re ready to bring the FG to the track to race,” Price said.
The FG V8 Supercar and Ford’s traditional line-up of Falcon’s will hit the track this weekend at the Midas 400, Sandown Raceway June 7-9, further information at www.sandown400.com.
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June 4th, 2008 at 3:31 pm
Great isn’t it the boys at FPR do all the hard work in designing building and testing the very first FG V8 Supercar then has to hand it over to Fords Poster Boy
[the new Marcos Ambrose] Craig Lowndes at 888 racing
Who; given that it appears has lost the ability to effect a decent clean passing manouvre when a competitor has the audacity to be infront of him
will probably severely damage it by punting someone else or even himself into a wall as he did at this years Clipsal - I mean they just finished re-building it and Winnies NZ car
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June 4th, 2008 at 3:41 pm
Wheelnut, you seem to have a dislike of the 888 fella.
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June 4th, 2008 at 3:43 pm
Craig Lowndes the new Marcus Ambrose? What the hell are you on??? Craig Lowndes won his first championship back in 1996! Infact he had won three of the things before Ambrose even started driving a V8, and hes won bathurst 3 times (something Marcus hasn’t been able to do once) and has been the most well known and popular V8 driver since Peter Brock, his popularity reaching FAR greater hights then Ambrose could have ever possibly have hoped for.
By the way, FPR built the car but the engineering work was actually done as a joint venture between 888 and FPR
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June 4th, 2008 at 3:49 pm
Hear Hear Richo !!
Go Lowndsey !!
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June 4th, 2008 at 4:03 pm
I accept the fact that he won the championship with HOLDEN! and that he is one of the most popular drivers.
What I was referring to his ow just recently his driving style and his attitude have changed its almost as if he believes that No-one is allowed to be infront of him {not even the pace car] - which is why i made the comparison to Ambrose as he had the same attitude
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June 4th, 2008 at 4:16 pm
I agree with Wheelnut, I made the trip to Adelaide this year from Melbourne for Clipsal and happened to be sitting right where the innicdent between Lowndes, Winterbottom and Courtney happened and well in was pretty conclusive Lowndes can’t drive.
Also during last years championship started this where Lowndes was increasingly complaining about any car infront of him, and most of the time they were fighting for position not lap traffic.
Must have taken a different approach this year. “Can’t beat ‘em, just push ‘em out the way!”
And good luck to Ford with the FG race car, maybe it doing well they will sell some.
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June 4th, 2008 at 4:43 pm
That’s it.. I Like Lowndes.. I’m an ex-flaggie and I always had a chat with him and the other drivers after every race. He is more than happy to talk to fans sign autographs and have photos taken etc… hence his popularity
What I don’t get is the sudden change in his attitude - if he wants to win the championship he has to be consistent and finish races which you can’t do when your car is damaged or in the wall
When he won back in 96 he was a clean racer who showed he had the skill to win races.. where has that skill gone?
which is why my favourite Ford driver ATM is Frosty
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June 4th, 2008 at 4:43 pm
Conclusive Lowndsey can’t drive!?!?! Conclusions like that are hard to argue with…
Couldn’t give two hoots about the guy, but I think his credentials as a very good driver are proven beyond dispute.
Anyway, this is just another step away from anything V8SC has to do with their production counterpart and closer to a NASCAR-style formula (if it isn’t arguably already there), meaning I’m losing more and more interest in V8SC.
Wish there was more production car racing on telly…
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June 4th, 2008 at 5:24 pm
I’m gradually losing interest in the sport as well but not because of what’s going on on the track - its the closest racing we’ve seen in years [Frosty V Tander].. but channel 7s sub-standard telecasts…. do we need to see the full hour an a half of qualifying?
They paid more for the rights than they did for the AFL yet it appears 7 builds it’s weekend schedule around the AFL instead of the V8s..
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June 4th, 2008 at 6:41 pm
I lost interest 21 years ago. How can they call it Ford vs Holden when the cars aernt even remotely similar to their production counterparts. Bring back the olds days with real cars…. not this custom BS
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June 4th, 2008 at 6:58 pm
I agree with TP today
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June 4th, 2008 at 7:10 pm
They can say V8 Supercars is Ford V Holden in the same way they say F1 is Ferrari V Mercedes V BMW or Indy/Champ Car is Ford V Chev v Honda etc.
Sure the cars bear no resemblance to their production car counterparts but they use engines made by car various companies because without the engines the cars are just 800-1300Kg lumps of Metal or Carbon Fibre
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June 4th, 2008 at 7:20 pm
Last Month AVESCO asked other manufacturers including Toyota if they were interested in entering the competition.. as they are about to assess the rules etc to see if any changes need to be made.
They sent a letter to Toyota along with a copy of the rules etc - Toyota considered the rules and regulations etc be reasonable yet they said NO.
Therefore; from now on any Toyota fans who complain about V8 supercars being a two make race or being off limits etc should shut up because you were asked…. you had a chance. end of story.
Because unliek F1 AVESCO make the Rules not Ferrari - and look how close the racing is now
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June 4th, 2008 at 7:35 pm
One of the rules I’d like to see changed as would most of the drivers would be to get rid of Drive through penalties and replace it with Post Race Time Penalties..
All they need is a list of fixed time penalties for the various infringements which would then be added on to the drivers time at the end of the race. Thereby allowing the driver to continue battling/racing for position.
The drivers would know if they passed under yellow flags [for example] they would have 1.5 seconds added to there time which could mean the loss of 2 spots.. the driver will then try to make up 2 spots so at the end of the race he ends up no lower than where he was at the time of the incident
They only need be fractions of a second as the racing is that tight - sometimes 10 cars can be covered by just 5 seconds
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June 4th, 2008 at 7:36 pm
I remember an article back in 2004 mentioned Geoff Polite saying that if Toyota entered the series it would spend shitloads of money on the, and Ford and Holden will have to counter spend the same amount, and given their profit margins, its a thing they cant really afford.
Lol I think Toyota is happy enough to spend the kitty on more advertising to rack up the sales rather than making sales by association…
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June 4th, 2008 at 8:23 pm
wheelnut,
you sound like one bitter old sole when it comes to lowndsey.
at least lowndes had the guts to stick it up tom walkinstick by walking away from the strong hold he had on the category. now its poor old Todd kelly that gets the kick in the guts for out performing the front man Skaiffe.
lowndes has the runs on the board to prove his talent and popularity as his rookie year speaks for itself along with the continual votes from fans and fellow drivers that place him as the best and fairest/ best personality in the game.
so what if lowndes rubs a bit of paint here and there? thats entertaining. at the end of it all, they both agreed they could have given each other a bit more room at clipsal.
so whats your take on Russel ingal who earnt his tag “The enforcer” by pushing his way through traffic?
or Paul morris who turns corners dodge em style?
just because lowndes always has a smile on his face does that mean it is unacceptable for him to rub paint when on the track?
and you cant exactlly knock ambrose.
hang on i see a pattern here……….
fords saviours/front media men wheelnut doesnt like??????
ambrose was also one hell of a rookie, and in his short few years in the category he had racked up 3/4 of what mark skaiffe had in his entire career (in V8’s)
lowndes gets to drive the thing because if you read properly, 888 was one of the main preparers of the vehicle.
do you remember who drove the T1 car?
it was someone that wasnt involved in the production of it
bitter, bitter words
have you ever heard Tander go off about a car infront or the team setting the wrong tyre pressures?
TP,
21 yrs ago you wouldnt have been old enough to remember what was on the TV screens.
for starters V8 supercars isnt even that old. knock 10yrs off that and you would be getting close
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June 4th, 2008 at 8:29 pm
Jobber,
what the category requires for entry is fair.
they require a minimum commitment of years to stay in and a minimum amount of teams.
they want to eliminate the money might of toyota for eg. entering for one year with 1 car and throwing all their money at it where as ford and holden have multiple teams to support.
its more than fair.
i do agree with you wheelnut in that all you toyota whingers about the two make series should be quiet, because this isnt the first time toyota has been offered an open table to submitt a proposal
chrysler was the other make approached recently, but say they are happy with just sponsoring the safety cars at the moment
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June 4th, 2008 at 9:28 pm
Silohette racing is rubbish. They are running the same floorpan underneath both the holden & the ford. It’s like my scalectrics set when I was 5. Put any body on the chassis and off you go.
Its time to bring back production based racing.
who else here wants to see an F6 turbo take it to the W427 up mountain straight?
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June 4th, 2008 at 9:28 pm
Andrew M,
Agree with you on the Lowndsey stuff and Wheelnut and other bagging his driving style sheesh give the guy a break. Did noone see his terrific drive a Bathurst last year ?? He is a great driver, started at the bottom with Holden and now drives great for the Blue Oval! He’s a good guy, not perfect, but human like the rest of us.
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June 4th, 2008 at 9:42 pm
Trackdaze,
mate production car racing is alive and kicking.
check out the performance car series.
just because V8 supercars takes the front page in aussie motorsport, people seem to think thats all there is.
V8’s takes the front page because its formula has been proven to be a popular and successfull one.
you cant argue with that.
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June 4th, 2008 at 10:05 pm
I must say in defense of Wheelnut,he has met these guys in their environment so as people not as stars like most of us see them. He doesn’t mind Craig as a person just dislikes him as a driver,dislikes Ambrose more,me I have always liked Ambrose mainly cause he hates handbag Murphy ,looks like theres going to be some biff n barg on our couch when it comes to drivers in V8 Supercars. But we both agree that Coldbum is the best n fairest driver in V8s for Ford at the moment! Dont get Wheelnut started on your mate Junior Andrew……..you dont want to know what they say about him.hahaha
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June 4th, 2008 at 10:26 pm
Ive watched performance car and its ok. The weekend warriors dont do it justice and they’ve stuck discontued celicas and interga’s in to pump up the field.
A bit more manufacturer support, tv coverage and better drivers would see it back on top.
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June 4th, 2008 at 11:12 pm
Andrew,
Is there a limit on the money a manufacturer can throw in? even if they have 4 teams, my guess is that they can throw in alot of money over what Ford or Holden can,
But to look at it in a corporate perspective, given Toyota’s range does not include a v8 and looks like there never will, theres no reason they would get any decent benefit from putting a race car into this. Chrysler on the other hand with their Hemi’s have a position perhaps?
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June 4th, 2008 at 11:24 pm
Come on……lay off Lowndes he’s one of the nicest guys in any type of racing……and if he can’t drive then i’d like to be half as bad a driver as he is!!!!!
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June 5th, 2008 at 7:25 am
i think craig lowndes deserves a medal for temper control after what happened to him in 2006. He had the championship in the bag until Rick Kelly shunted him off the track so he could win. How he got away with that is still beyond me. Sure he got a drive through penalty but considering the circumstances he got away with murder. Maybe they let him off because that would have been Fords 4th Championship in a row and the Holden bogans had been whinging their arses off as usual so they let Kelly off so Holden could win one.
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June 5th, 2008 at 9:01 am
Hey Carl ………..Wheelnut likes him as a person he just said that his attitude in his driving is changing,hes become more arrogant,which I could understand considering after the crap TOLL get away with. I agree Wheelstud Kelly wining was the most undeserved race wins for a long time.That was plain dirty racing on their behalf . Will his voice ever break ? hahaha
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June 5th, 2008 at 9:12 am
Under the rules a drive through is all they could give Kelly for the incident with Lowndes at PI because they were unable to say if it was intentional… mind you as always the EUNACHS in race control prefer to refer to everything that happens on the track as a racing incident
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June 5th, 2008 at 9:19 am
And no Im not defending [or attacking] Kelly [or Lowndes] for what happened.. Inorder to have an accident like that it usually takes 2 people,, I’m just going by the rules.
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June 5th, 2008 at 9:21 am
It was actually Roland Dane who wanted to go ahead with the subsequent protest. After the race Dane and Lowndes were talking in the Pit Garage.. Lowndes was actually trying to talk dane out of it. As Lowndes says what happens on the track stays on the track.. and I admired him for that.
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June 5th, 2008 at 9:58 am
Chryslers contract to supply the [Superfluous] Pace Cars ends at the end of the year and there are rumours that Holden and Ford will supply them for next year.. Holden a Sportwagon and Ford an XR6 sedan.
I say the pace cars are superfluous not only because they very rarely [if at all] manage to pull out of pit lane so that they are immediately in front of the leader..
But the likes of Brock Richards Johnson Moffat went for years without one as they knew that a car was off the track at a particular corner and remembered to take care in that area the next time round.
Which proves there is no real need for a pace car [apart from extra advertising] as the area where the accident is can be covered by a local yellow at one flag point and a green at the following flag point.
Then whilst the recovery vehicle makes its way around the track to the incident it can be covered by a sequential white flag.
This would allow the drivers to continue racing around the rest of the track etc instead of creating a line of cars which resembles a funeral procession as well as cause the race to fall behind schedule [channel 7 wouldn’t like that]
Our Flaggies are known to be some of the best in the world. International drivers often comment on how well we run events like the F1 GP and Indy. Events that wouldn’t even happen without the Flaggies help or support.
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June 5th, 2008 at 11:11 am
Yeah….Craig got ripped off last year BUT his attitude afterwards earned him a lot of respect and as far as his attitude changing on the race track maybe it’s a little bit of frustration on what seems to be a Holden “friendly” championship in the last few years…….that’s just the impression I’ve gotten i don’t have any proof just seems to me that all the GOLDEN boys seem to come from Holden!!!
Hey BM…..nice to see back on ACA!!
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June 5th, 2008 at 11:21 am
Oh come on! Stop bashing V8SC, stop bashing the drivers, and comment on the article!
For starters, V8’s are what we have, its more interesting than many high profile motorsport series and at least guys pass each other. It’s Aussie, so show sone support.
The drivers, well quite frankly they are bloody good. How can we complain about a few incidents, when most of us here would prob struggle get a V8 around Bathurst within 10 secs of these guys, let alone pass another very good driver.
Now to comment on the article… instead of bash people we can’t even compare ourselves too. I can’t wait to the FG01! The BA/BF model is a great looking machine, and with the upgrade to the FG shell and a team blue effort to get this thing to fly, I’m looking forward to seeing a sea of Red (Holden’s) in the background to blinding Blue streaks (Fords) ripping off to the finish line.
Whatever side you support its best to have the current models represented in the show (but Ill miss the BA/BF’s). The VE was a great shot in the arm for the Holden guys, and why cant this be the same having the FG coming on soonish.
Thanks to FPR, 888, and SBR for a united attack on the reds. Good job!
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June 5th, 2008 at 2:04 pm
I am a massive V8 Supercar fan,
i cant agree with the comments above about the BIFFOO going on now because IMO its borring if its follow the leader.
The two fastest guys at the moment are Frosty and Jamie,
best of all there in Fords and all us Ford fans have waited for years to have the fastest cars on and off the track, this year and probably the next 2 the wait is over.
The way i look at the comments above is these guys can drive these cars better then we ever could, all the Bull Shit above is the good old Aussie way “green eyes of envy”.
Why should they get paid million dollars plus a year to drive a car, will there lucky enough to get the chance like any sport you need talent.
FG01 looks great,
Cant wait for this weekend to come its a FORD track.
GO FORD
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June 5th, 2008 at 5:52 pm
Joober,
currently there is no cap as to how much money a manufacturer can throw in.
they are looking at cost containment measures at the moment in the same way the salary cap in footy ensures it isnt those with the big bucks that always win the cup.
its a good idea in theory, but will be hard to implement and control.
Wheelnut,
im calmed down a bit now mate.
sorry but it was just your first comment that got me where you just bagged the crap out of lowndes.
ambrose and lowndes are pure talent and you holden fans will always dislike them in the same way us ford fans dislike the holden talent in Tander.
ATM i would say Tander is the only driver on the red side with some real driving talent.
yes rick is consistent, but rarely if ever displays great talent as he never challenges anyone for a position.
if someone comes up behind him with a car that is .2 sec quicker they will get past.
if he comes up behind some one that is .2 sec slower he wont get past.
tander in the other hand will get past someone who is punching out identical times and keep at bay those that are .2 sec quicker
yeah frosty is a great driver though agreed on that.
what i would love to see though is will davison behind a decent set of wheels.
keep in mind that DJR is running 5yr old cars and motors. they arent even running the latest motor tech design.
and Will has had a Win this year!!!!!!
keep eyes open for 2009 as DJR take hold of some brand spanking machines, i sight they havent seen for a very long time.
also DJR is always strong at bathurst.
WHY? because they built possibly the best donks to hit a V8 supercar. its the chassis set up that troubles them on the technical circuits
and who is “Toyotas……The Words Most Boring Cars”???
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June 5th, 2008 at 7:13 pm
Andrew M: I think I read somewhere that the Newman-Haas Indy Car team could be assisting in the development of the Engines for the New DJR cars as DJR has links to the Newman hass Indy Car team.. [HAAS engineering is written on the rear decklid of their cars] if so they would definitely be a serious contender next year.. given the success Newman Haas has had in Indy
When you say that Tander is talented are you referrng to Garth or Leanne?
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June 5th, 2008 at 7:34 pm
Bring back the Skyline. That way all ford & holdens fans can see a real production race car. Go the GODZILLA.
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June 5th, 2008 at 8:21 pm
If you want to see which Make/Team is the favourite with those in race control just have alook at which driver/make received/receives the most drive through penalties.
I mean the stewards are supposed to be impartial tet there are so many times where the driver of car A gives car B a love tap going into a corner.. doesn’t pass him but he receives a drive through yet when the roles are reversed no such penalty is issued.
Yet all the teams Drivers and Fans want is consistency
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June 5th, 2008 at 10:12 pm
Wheelnut,
i think the stewards are a little more consistant than they used to be.
also remember the days where a drive through for the at the time dominant HRT was unheard of?
it seemed that only the mid pack and wooden spooners were issued drive throughs.
at least now they arent afraid of pulling the leader in if they do wrong.
which Tander talented?
well i say both. did you see the footage of leanne jumping out of her car and running to rip the head off of the stupid driver who took her out a few rounds ago?
funny stuff.
ive watched leanne for quite a while now. she certainly gives the guys a run for their money.
the thing she has more of than talent, is dedication.
i think that it is her dedication that serves her well.
just on a side note,
i liked Garth in his early days at GRM better then when he joined the tool team.
back then Garth had skills and was a little more greatfull to get a win. now he sort of expects to win.
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June 7th, 2008 at 12:17 pm
i think u guys hav gone copletly off the subject .its about the fg
i beleave the fg has bing engineed alot better then the ba and the bf i think its gonna nock the holdens around wean the car finnaly hits the track
my spelling is shit (sorry)
go frosty
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June 7th, 2008 at 12:20 pm
mate the only reason they won bathurst was becourse it was a four wheel drive i bet if it was two wheel it would not make it up the heel piss that jap crap off
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August 20th, 2008 at 7:25 pm
who cares about who like lowndes. it all comes down to the driver of the round and if his vehicle will perform with him. but this is about the new V8 falcon. its the best. holden wont be able to compete
SBR number 1 team
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