Motorsport: Teammates battle for No 1

Kiwi Shane van Gisbergen (SP Tools Ford Falcon) is aiming to overtake Mark Winterbottom to take 3rd place on the table. Photo / Fast Company

After 13 rounds, the 2011 V8 Supercars' champion will be decided this weekend at the Sydney Telstra 500 held around the streets of Olympic Park.

TeamVodafone team-mates Jamie Whincup and Craig Lowndes will know tomorrow afternoon who will have the number one plate heading into next season. Both have won championships in the past, but neither has fared that well in Homebush having not finished on the podium in the past two years.

The circuit is generally regarded as a car and driver buster and, in the 12 races held here, 10 different drivers have stood on the podium, with Mark Winterbottom and Jason Bright the only repeat top-three drivers.

All three-podium finishers on Saturday last year started outside the top 10 in a manic race affected by rain - Jonathon Webb (21st), Jason Bright (28th) and Rick Kelly (14th) all survived to stand on the podium.

Nearly all the drivers agree that the Sydney race is the toughest on the calendar and real car breaker where they have to manage the car and look to themselves more than anywhere else. Lowndes knows he has to do the business today and finish in front of Whincup, or his tilt at the title is done.

"I'm feeling pretty good and relaxed, it's all up for grabs," said Lowndes. "My championship all hinges on this Saturday's race because if I don't get the point's gap to under 150 it's all over.

"It's pretty clear cut for me - I need to win a race."

While the two Triple Eight drivers are eyeing up the main prize, Shane van Gisbergen will be champing at the bit to get past Winterbottom on the points table to nab third place in the championship. Winterbottom has a 35-point advantage on the Kiwi driver and has the form around the streets of the Sydney suburb.

"I know he's [van Gisbergen] going to be quick so we've got to be on our game and have a strong weekend. There's also Garth [Tander] and Will [Davison] also in with a chance so it'll be a real battle," said Winterbottom.

"It's also about pride and we need to have a Ford finish in third in the championship. We can't have a Holden one, two, three. That would really annoy me."

The FPR driver will be hoping to knock van Gisbergen off the third-place perch, and on Sunday will be the real adventure to see if the flying Kiwi can put the Aussie in his place.

"We've got to get the best out of practice and qualify really well," said van Gisbergen. "Hopefully that will set us up well for the races on Saturday and Sunday. This weekend is all about getting back in front of Mark [Winterbottom], [and to] focus on our thing and not be too worried about the others."

If Whincup can seal the title he will be the second driver to win the Australian Touring Car Championship/V8 Supercars Championship along with Norm Beechey (1965 and 1970), and to win in a Ford and a Holden.

All Whincup has to do is pick up 112 points over the weekend and that will be enough for the title even if Lowndes wins both races.

The track winds its way through the Sydney Olympic Park complex and is a mixture of corners and track surfaces not dissimilar to the Hamilton street circuit.

Holden has won 23 races of the 26 held this year. Ford's three are courtesy of two from van Gisbergen and one from Winterbottom.

The last time one manufacturer dominated another in the championship was 2002, when Holden won 25 races to Ford's four.

Leaderboard

1. Jamie Whincup 3033

2. Craig Lowndes 2845

3. Mark Winterbottom 2449

4. Shane van Gisbergen 2414

5. Garth Tander 2388

6. Will Davison 2345

7. Rick Kelly 2211

8. Lee Holdsworth 1857