V8s head south for a cool change
V8 Supercars’ Victorian teams are keen to keep up their end of the bargain in the battle of the states for the sixth event of the 2010 Championship. The Queensland versus Victoria battle resumes at the other end of Australia at Winton Motor Raceway after James Courtney won both races at the Paperclip – his test track - earlier this month. Garth Tander from the Melbourne-based Toll Holden Racing Team plans on retaliating at Winton, his own test track. GT was the only southerner to take one of the six podium positions on offer over the weekend at Queensland Raceway, where the races were run entirely on the soft compound tyres.
Winton will be the second and last event for 2010 where only the soft tyres will be used and with a much clearer understanding of the circuit, the surface and weather, he wants total domination at his home track.
“It’s a very long year and there are still plenty of stories to be told; this is just going to be one chapter. “It’s a great opportunity for all of us to try and chase Jamie (Whincup) in the Championship,” GT, who sits fourth in the points standings, said.
Fellow Victorian but Ford rival Mark Winterbottom wants to turn his luck around after a couple of disastrous events.“Winton’s our home test track so if there’s any place to turn you Championship around your test track’s the place to do it,” he pointed out.
Pic: Frosty’s looking for revenge at Winton after smashing up his Ford at Ipswich
Both factory drivers know they have not got an easy job on their hands with the Queenslanders snapping at their heels for a taste of victory at Winton. While Whincup will be keen to fend off Courtney after J-Dub’s lead was closed to a mere 24 points at Ipswich, Courtney will be striving to do the absolute opposite. And don’t forget that J-Dub’s TeamVodafone teammate Craig Lowndes won both races at Winton last year or that Greg Murphy, who now drives for a Gold Coast-based team, has it as a test track for years.
Regardless of whether the battle ends up being won by the Mexicans or not, the one thing for sure is it is going to be bloody freezing at the country Victorian track. So long as you’ve got a can cooler to stop your hands from icing up, Winterbottom reckons a couple of gold tinnies will go down well. “Winton is pretty miserable in winter so hopefully the XXXX will warm up a few fans,” Frosty said.
Winton Motor Raceway’s V8 Supercar event for 2010 takes place from May 14-16 and tickets can be bought from the circuit’s website at www.wintonmotorraceway.com.au or at the gate on the day.
