Motorsport: V8 team 'solves' engine problem

Jamie Whincup (L) and Craig Lowndes believe they have solved their engine problem. Photo / Supplied

After deliberately blowing up a A$100,000 ($124,000) V8 Supercar engine last week, enduro maestros Craig Lowndes and Jamie Whincup feel well prepared for this weekend's Phillip Island 500.

The Team Vodafone duo have been rattled by nagging mechanical problems and decided on the radical action during a shakedown day last week.

With the Phillip Island and Bathurst long-distance races looming, the team wanted to ensure they would not be hampered.

"We understand why our engines were blowing up now which is good," said Whincup yesterday.

"We spent a lot of time and a lot of money as well and we blew another one up, so we've worked out what that engine issue was.

"We're going into two long races so if we had engine problems this time of year we would be in big trouble."

Whincup was coy about the cause of the problem but said it was one which a lot of teams were experiencing.

Whincup is revisiting Phillip Island determined to wipe out bad memories from past races.

"I narrowly missed out on the championship in 2007 by two points to Garth Tander and of course ran off the track with about five laps to go [last year] and also got beaten by Garth Tander.

"That doesn't go away, I can still remember that so you can see where my motivation is."

The reigning V8 champion and series leader said he and Lowndes were as confident as they could be heading into the race.

"We've got a fast car, we've worked well together and we had a fantastic test day last week so we couldn't have any more confidence going into this weekend," he said.

"This weekend at Phillip Island and Bathurst are a really important part of the championship. You can come out a contender or you can come out miles behind and have absolutely no chance."

Lowndes pinpointed the Toll Holden Racing duo of 2007 champion Garth Tander and teammate Will Davison as their major rivals at Phillip Island.

"Their combination will be as strong as ours and that's something we're well aware of."

- AAP