Challenge a winner for Frosty

SUPERCAR driver Mark Winterbottom feels he now has the tools to win.

Winterbottom, who has won the Supercars championship once, in 2015, this year switches from driving a Ford Falcon at Tickford Racing to a Holden Commodore at Team 18 in pursuit of better results, after finishing outside the top 10 in 2019 for the first time since 2005.

Winterbottom spent 13 years at Tickford Racing and has switched manufacturers as well as teams to get the right people and equipment as well as the race car to chase another drivers’ championship in 2019.

“I felt like I needed a change,” Winterbottom said.

“Thirteen years in one place was a bit … stale I guess.

“Having a new challenge, it rallies you and has brought the youth out in me again, which is good.”

Winterbottom, 37, finished 12th in 2018 and has relished joining the one-car Irwin Racing team that was established by Charlie Schwerkolt three years ago.

He is enjoying calling the shots with the way the car is set up from an engineering perspective, as well as developing close-knit relationships with crew. “I’ve felt a lot younger at 37 than I did last year,” he said.

“I feel like everything we do, everything we put in, we get back, it’s good. Having one car, it’s all your focus as well.”

However, Winterbottom, who is nicknamed Frosty, does not harbour any ill will towards his old team, including fellow Supercar driver Chaz Mostert. The two will line up on the Superloop Adelaide 500 grid as opponents for the first time next weekend.