GARTH VADER
When it comes to Car Wars Mark Winterbottom knows there is only one man who can Force him out of the running for an Endurance Cup crown ...
MARK Winterbottom will aim to overcome the man he rates as the best endurance driver in the field to win an illustrious V8 Supercars Championship and Enduro Cup double.
The V8 series leader and Ford co-driver Steve Owen holds a 78-point lead over nearest rival, Holden’s Garth Tander and his partner Warren Luff, but with 300 points up for grabs in the final two races of the Enduro Cup the title is still far from decided.
Winterbottom is on the cusp of adding the Enduro Cup to a potential maiden V8 series victory in what would be the pinnacle of his 12-year championship career.
“I have never really taken much notice of the Enduro Cup because we have never been in contention,” Winterbottom said.
“It’s also really important to Steve because he has done a mega job and if he can stand at the end of it and be the endur- ance champ it will be really big for him. It’s big for us too because if you win then you put yourself in a good position for the big one at the end.”
But the 34-year-old knows his dream is under threat from Tander despite the fact the HRT driver has had his struggles in qualifying this year.
“His qualifying speeds have been a let-down but his race pace and the way he races has probably been the best in the category so he will be there at the end no doubt,” Winterbottom said.
“If he wins it and we beat the other guys in the championship it is still a good result but we will be trying to win it. You want to win every trophy so hopefully we can keep him behind us.”
Tander said his experience in the series made him comfortable with tackling the concrete canyon.
“I have been in the series for a long time and understanding the race is the key,” Tander said. “This is more of a traditional sprint race so you need to make sure you have a fast car, start somewhere near the front and get the strategy right.”
Both drivers agreed strategy would be critical this year as it is the first time a mix of soft and hard tyres are used in a 300km race.
It’s big for us too because if you win then you put yourself in a good position
MARK WINTERBOTTOM