Ford driver Mark Winterbottom is hot on the tail of series leader Craig Lowndes. Picture: Mark Horsburgh
IT was the scene of the classic 1981 championship showdown between Peter Brock and Dick Johnson. And this week Ford's Mark Winterbottom and Will Davison prepared for their title tussle against Holden's Jamie Whincup and Craig Lowndes at the famous Lakeside circuit as the penultimate round of the most fiercely contested in the modern era nears.
With the four top-guns all in the hunt for the championship in a classic Holden v Ford war, the Ford Performance Racing boys were treated to an outing at the iconic Queensland track that saw Johnson outlast Brock to win one of V8s' most famous races and titles. This year's championship decider at the Sydney 500 in December could join the Lakeside classic as one of the immortal V8 races with the four way war to go down to the wire.
Winterbottom is leading the charge for Ford with the Bathurst winner less than 100 points behind leader Craig Lowndes (Holden). The ride day at Lakeside gave him valuable time behind the wheel before heading to Phillip Island on November 22 to continue the high octane battle.
"Lakeside is a track with so much history and it was a blast to get to rip around in a V8 Supercar," Winterbottom said.
"I'm not sure if it helps too much in terms of the championship but any time behind the wheel certainly doesn't hurt."
Winterbottom edged within 50 points of the lead following the first race of a chaotic Gold Coast 600, but dropped backed to an 88 point deficit after a horror second instalment. The Sydney-raised driver was looking to steal the outright lead but was struck down by a mechanical failure, forcing him to fight his way through the field to save points.
"Saturday was good," Winterbottom said.
"Sunday wasn't so good. But that is the way it goes sometimes and we just knuckled down and saved what we could. It could have been a lot worse and 88 points is nothing in this championship. We have a good car and we have some runs on the board at Phillip Island so we are very confident about our chances."
Winterbottom and Whincup had a war of words on the Gold Coast with the reigning champion labelling the Bathurst winner a clown. But while all are focused on the two long time rivals, Lowndes quietly snatched an eight-point lead in the championship will Davison edged closer to the leading three with a consistent weekend.
There are also another nine drivers who are a mathematical chance of stealing the crown in the closest championship of the modern era. But realistically, no one will come close to FPR or Red Bull Racing Australia with the two powerhouse teams showing no sign of weakness with just two events to go.
"It will go down to the wire," Winterbottom said.
"You can bet we won't have a winner until the final race on Sunday at Homebush. Hopefully that winner is driving a Ford."
30 Oct, 2013
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Source: http://www.news.com.au/national/lakeside-next-with-race-between-lowndes-winterbottom-whincup-going-down-to-the-wire/story-e6frfkp9-1226750021733?from=public_rss
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