Motorsport: Triple Eight 'beatable' says HRT

HRT says the Bathurst dream team of Jamie Whincup and Craig Lowndes can be beaten. Photo / Getty Images

MELBOURNE - Holden's Garth Tander is happy to let the Bathurst hype engulf his Ford rivals Jamie Whincup and Craig Lowndes, confident he can spoil their attempt for a record-breaking fourth successive win.

Tander and Holden Racing Team co-driver Will Davison go into this weekend's Bathurst 1000 last-start enduro winners at the Phillip Island lead-up.

But as expectation builds around Whincup and Lowndes' bid to do what no driver has done and win a fourth successive Bathurst, Tander and Davison go in underdogs and unheralded.

Not that it bothers Tander, who last won Bathurst in 2000 but believes he has a great chance this year with a good car and in-form running mate in Davison.

"It (the hype) is justified. They've won three in a row and no one has ever won four in a row, but we're not overly concerned," Tander said.

"The team is going to Bathurst to beat everyone, not just one car. So while the media is focused on Whincup and Lowndes, and a lot of other people are focused on beating just that one car, we're focused on what we need to do.

"If we do our job well, it will be good enough to win the race."

Davison also says Whincup and Lowndes' Team Vodafone is beatable, and Bathurst comes with the added spur of being able to cut into Whincup's championship lead.

Davison sits second in the championship, with Whincup third.

"They've had a great run at Bathurst over the last few years, but they're well and truly beatable and we've proven that by winning four out of the last five races this year," Davison said.

"We're very confident with what we need to do going into the race.

"I certainly think we know how to win it.

"Just by the way HRT is functioning, we're going to give Bathurst a real shake this year - we're prepared to win it."

Practice gets underway on Thursday, with opening qualifying Friday, the top 10 shootout on Saturday and the 1000km race on Sunday.

- AAP