Motorsport: Fuel and weather key to enduro win

Fuel economy and weather will decide this weekend's Phillip Island enduro, says James Courtney. Photo / Getty Images

MELBOURNE - Fuel economy and weather rather than raw pace are set to be the critical factors in deciding this weekend's V8 Supercar enduro at Phillip Island, according to in-form Ford driver James Courtney.

Courtney, who will pilot a Dick Johnson Racing Falcon alongside Steve Johnson at the island and at the Bathurst 1000 from October 8-11, says the team which best manages their cars on the new ethanol fuel blend and makes the right weather call could emerge the winner.

"Phillip Island is our first enduro since the switch to E85 fuel this year, so it's a challenge for everyone to calculate how many laps they can get from a full tank," Courtney said.

"The E85 fuel consumption is greater than what we were previously used, so whoever can make their cars run the longest could have an advantage because they can be more flexible with strategy.

"However, all the planning when to make pit stops will go out the window if it rains, which is what happened toward the end of last year's race.

"The weather is unpredictable at Phillip Island at this time of year and if it's wet all you can do is try to adapt and get onto whatever tyres best suit the track as conditions change."

The 29-year-old Gold Coast-based driver has two championship race wins, at Queensland Raceway in 2008 and in Townsville this year, but is without an endurance victory.

"I've had three podiums at Bathurst, but I think this year is my best chance of winning an endurance race in terms of the car, team, and driver package," Courtney said.

"We should be competitive - I've won a race and had three second places this season, Steve has a pole position and podium finishes and right now we are both in the top 10 in the championship."

Courtney's best V8 Supercar endurance results were finishing second at Bathurst in 2007, and third at the Mount Panorama track in 2006 and 2008, all while he was driving for Stone Brothers Racing.

Jack Daniel's Racing brothers Todd and Rick Kelly, teaming up for only the second time, believe they have a realistic chance of upsetting the favourites and defending champions, Ford stars Craig Lowndes and Jamie Whincup.

The pair are one of only three combinations in this year's endurance events where both drivers are previous Bathurst winners. The others are Whincup and Lowndes and Holden's Greg Murphy and Mark Skaife.

"We are definitely the dark horse for these two endurance races," Todd said.

"If we're going to have any success in our first year, these two events are going to be the ones where we've got half a chance of having a really good run."

Former series champion Rick Kelly has the extra motivation to perform well after a costly error last year.

"I had a very competitive car there last year but we were a bit unlucky to finish back in seventh and that came down to a strategy call that I made in the car on the weather," Rick said.

"I thought it was going to dry up so I stayed on slicks but unfortunately it cost us a shot at the win so I'm eager to get back there and turn that around and get our first podium result."

The Phillip Island event begins with three practice sessions on Friday.

On Saturday there will be separate qualifying sessions and 14-lap races for drivers in each team to determine the grid for Sunday's race.

Reigning V8 champion Whincup is the current points leader, ahead of Will Davison (Holden), Garth Tander (Holden) and Craig Lowndes (Ford).

- AAP