Owen slick and tyred
HE’S so laid back he can barely stay awake but Gold Coaster Steve Owen is the secret weapon that could finally propel Mark Winterbottom to a maiden V8 Supercar championship.
Owen has emerged as an unlikely role model for Winterbottom as he bids to cope with the pressure to break his championship drought and hand a title to Ford for the first time since 2010.
And while a big part of that is his undoubted driving skill, Owen’s greatest attribute may be the calming effect he has on his enduro partner.
“He is so relaxed,’’ Winterbottom said of Owen.
“He’s the sort of guy that you’re looking for him and he’s in the truck asleep. It actually really calms you down.
“In the endurance championship we really team up well because there’s massive pressure on, there’s heaps of pressure on at the moment.
“Then when you go and see your buddy asleep in the truck, you’re sort of like, he’s cool, so why am I stressing?’’
Owen said he would love nothing more than to help deliver a championship to the man known as “Frosty’’. “It’d be pretty special because it’s been a long time coming for Ford and for Prodrive,’’ Owen said.
“I’ve been there for three years now and I’ve seen them move from a good team to a great team.
“It’s the perfect opportunity for them in the championship. Frosty deserves it and I’d love to be a part of it.’’
Winterbottom was second in the series in 2008 and has finished third in the standings five times, including last year.
He has been the standout driver this season in the best car and has a lead that should ensure he snares his first title.
It’s a situation that has Winterbottom in prime position but only adds to the pressure to finally deliver a title.
“You can’t really describe how important this championship is,’’ he said.
“Whincup’s won so many, James (Courtney) split him up in the middle there and we want to end the drought from how long he’s had it. Hopefully we can get it done but there’s a long way to go.’’
But the 34-year-old seems to be embracing Owen’s relaxed demeanour and is determined to “enjoy’’ this weekend’s Gold Coast 600.
“If you start stressing out too much and don’t enjoy it, it could have a big consequence,’’ Winterbottom said.
“Although it’s a high-risk round to lose (part of your leading) gap, it’s a massive opportunity to extend it,’’ he said.
“If you can survive it’s good but if we can win, it’s very good.’’