V8Central - V8Supercars

It’s back, and better than ever: the most comprehensive annual form-guide for Australia’s great race. After in-depth analysis of this year’s V8 Supercar Championship results and past endurance races, each driver pairing has been rated as follows:

Speed: Are the two drivers able to qualify well? Do they have the pace to run at the front in the sprint to the end?

Race-craft: Will the drivers be aggressive or defensive? Will they be smart in deciding when to push hard and when to relax? How will they perform if it rains?

Endurance Factor: Will the car be reliable over the 1000km duration of the race? Is the team capable of making the right strategic decisions to adapt to changing weather conditions or safety car interventions?

So, want to know who will win, who will lose and who will crash? Read on…

Car 1: Garth Tander / Mark Skaife (Holden Racing Team)
The men in red did their Bathurst preparation no harm by winning the L&H Phillip Island 500. It’s not all positive though: Skaife was well off the pace of Tander during his stint in the 500, and the two drivers were undeniably lucky with the weather and safety cars. However, Skaife’s experience at Bathurst should move him a lot closer to the front-running pace, and Tander’s speed in 2008 has been explosive. In short, this is the strongest Holden combination.
Speed: 9.5/10, Race-craft: 8.5/10, Endurance Factor: 9/10, Overall: 27/30

Car 2: Glenn Seton / Craig Baird (Holden Racing Team)
Will this be the year that Glenn Seton finally wins his first Bathurst? Nope! The car is up to the job, but Seton and Baird simply don’t have the pace of the series regulars, although both are extremely experienced. Of the two, Baird is the more race-fit, and looks set to win a second Australian Carrera Cup title this year. The best bet for these drivers is to stay out of trouble and aim for a top-10 finish.
Speed: 5/10, Race-craft: 6/10, Endurance Factor: 7.5/10, Overall: 18.5/30

Car 3: Greg Murphy / Jason Richards (Tasman Motorsport)
This team has a huge amount of potential. However, they are yet to convert that potential into results, thanks to a combination of mechanical problems and driver incidents. A mechanical non-finish in the Phillip Island 500 was not a good sign in the lead-up to Bathurst, but this duo finished fourth at Bathurst last year. Greg Murphy is the fastest driver ever around Bathurst, but it has been quite a while now since he has displayed the sort of form that won him two consecutive Bathursts in 2003 and 2004. Based on this team’s 2008 performance, a podium finish is unlikely.
Speed: 7.5/10, Race-craft: 6/10, Endurance Factor: 6.5/10, Overall: 20/30

Car 4: James Courtney / David Besnard (Stone Brothers Racing)
Mathematically, James Courtney should win Bathurst this year, because he came third in 2006 and second last year. It doesn’t always work like that, of course, but Courtney and Besnard are certainly contenders. Courtney has shown plenty of pace this year, and Besnard’s form in the Phillip Island 500 was particularly impressive, considering he’s no longer a full-time V8 Supercar driver. The only possible weakness is car setup; in the past, SBR have had trouble producing Bathurst race-cars that are quick and look after their tyres.
Speed: 8/10, Race-craft: 7.5/10, Endurance Factor: 8/10, Overall: 23.5/30

Car 5: Dean Canto / Luke Youlden (Ford Performance Racing)
These two drivers are equipped with one of the best V8 Supercars in pit lane. They are going to need it too; they are both driving for their careers, and desperately need a good result, particularly Canto, who crashed himself and Lee Holdsworth out of the race last year and subsequently lost his main-game seat. The Phillip Island 500 was not a great demonstration of either driver’s ability, but Canto and Youlden have both had good results on the Mountain in the past.
Speed: 6/10, Race-craft: 5.5/10, Endurance Factor: 4.5/10, Overall: 16/30

Car 6: Mark Winterbottom / Steven Richards (Ford Performance Racing)
Mark Winterbottom has been awesomely quick at some rounds this year, while Steven Richards has been ultra-consistent as usual. Both drivers led last year’s Bathurst 1000 and looked set for victory until Winterbottom slid off in wet conditions. He will be out to make amends this year. The only apparent weakness with this combination is a question mark over FPR to make the right strategic calls under pressure, like the changing weather conditions in the Phillip Island 500.
Speed: 10/10, Race-craft: 9/10, Endurance Factor: 8/10, Overall: 27/30

Car 7: Todd Kelly / Shane Price (Jack Daniel’s Racing)
The Phillip Island 500 did not go to plan for these two drivers, who were beaten home by the second JDR entry. There is no doubting Todd’s talent, and Price has out-qualified Kelly a couple of times this season. However, Larry Perkins’ operation is still paying for last season, when two rookies were driving for the team, restricting opportunities for development. The drivers and engineers will need to work hard to ensure the car is up to the job for Bathurst.
Speed: 6/10, Race-craft: 7/10, Endurance Factor: 6/10, Overall: 19/30

Car 9: Shane Van Gisbergen / Jonathan Webb (Stone Brothers Racing)
Young Kiwi racer Shane Van Gisbergen has been the revelation of the season, racing competitively with far more experienced drivers. His talent has been particularly apparent in the wet; whenever it has rained, “The Giz” has been amongst the fastest. His co-driver, Jonathan Webb, has been consistent in the Fujitsu Series, but struggled to match Van Gisbergen’s pace in the Phillip Island 500. If it’s wet at Bathurst, and SVG is in the car at the end, look out!
Speed: 7/10, Race-craft: 8/10, Endurance Factor: 6/10, Overall: 21/30

Car 11: Jack Perkins / Nathan Pretty (Jack Daniel’s Racing)
This pairing came home a fine eighth in the Phillip Island 500, thanks in no small part to some strategic brilliance from the engineer, Oscar Fiorinotto. Bathurst will be tougher, but on the other hand, the attrition rate will probably be higher. Provided these drivers can stay on the lead lap and stay out of trouble, they could go close to cracking the top-five.
Speed: 5/10, Race-craft: 6/10, Endurance Factor: 7.5/10, Overall: 18.5/30

Car 12: Cameron McConville / Andrew Jones (Brad Jones Racing)
A massive crash in the Phillip Island 500 left this team with some hard yakka to repair the car for Bathurst, but prior to the dilemma, the signs for this team were good, with both drivers running solidly in the top-six. In the past, Brad Jones and John Bowe have lifted this team beyond its normal level at Bathurst, and the ingredients, such as a former HRT chassis and the intelligence of engineer Wally Storey, are in place for that trend to continue.
Speed: 6/10, Race-craft: 7/10, Endurance Factor: 7.5/10, Overall: 20.5/30

Car 14: Max Wilson / Brad Jones (Brad Jones Racing)
As mentioned previously, Brad Jones has a history of lifting his game at Bathurst, and Max Wilson finished seventh with Jason Bargwanna last year. However, neither Jones nor Wilson have raced regularly in 2008, and were off the pace of the regular V8 Supercar drivers in the Phillip Island 500. Strategically, this car will most likely play a backup role to the McConville / Andrew Jones entry, so a top-15 finish would be a commendable result.
Speed: 3.5/10, Race-craft: 4.5/10, Endurance Factor: 5.5/10, Overall: 13.5/30

Car 15: Rick Kelly / Paul Radisich (HSV Dealer Team)
While Rick Kelly hasn’t had the outright pace of the likes of Tander, Whincup or Winterbottom this season, he has been very consistent, running fourth in the championship heading to Bathurst. Paul Radisich, while no longer a full-time V8 Supercar driver, did a good job in the Phillip Island 500, staying on the track and posting competitive times. After the Tander / Skaife combination, this is probably Holden’s second best shot at Bathurst glory.
Speed: 8/10, Race-craft: 9/10, Endurance Factor: 8.5/10, Overall: 25.5/30

Car 16: Paul Dumbrell / David Reynolds (HSV Dealer Team)
Paul Dumbrell has had a shocking season, running a lowly 21st in the championship, driving for the team that won the title last year. Dumbrell desperately needs a good result to silence his critics, but given the strength of the competition, it won’t come easily. His co-driver, David Reynolds, has an impressive pedigree: he has won national championships in Formula Ford and Carrera Cup, and is currently second in the Fujitsu Series, in his first year in the series.
Speed: 5/10, Race-craft: 4.5/10, Endurance Factor: 4/10, Overall: 13.5/30

Car 17: Steve Owen / Warren Luff (Dick Johnson Racing)
Steve Owen continues to demonstrate that he deserves a competitive, full-time drive in V8 Supercars. After losing his seat at Rod Nash Racing to make way for Tony D’Alberto, Owen stepped back into the Fujitsu Series, which he has duly dominated in 2008. At Phillip Island, both Owen and Warren Luff competed strongly against many of the more fancied combinations. If everything goes right for them at Bathurst, a podium finish is more than a possibility.
Speed: 7/10, Race-craft: 8/10, Endurance Factor: 8.5/10, Overall: 23.5/30

Car 18: Will Davison / Steven Johnson (Dick Johnson Racing)
Fresh from third-place finishes in 2007 at Bathurst and 2008 at Phillip Island, this combo will be looking to move two places further forward. They’re a good bet to do just that: Will Davison has been in fine form this season, taking his maiden round win at Eastern Creek and a race win at Winton, while Johnson has plenty of experience and always goes well at Bathurst. While it will be tough for them to beat the likes of Winterbottom / Richards and Lowndes / Whincup, it certainly isn’t impossible.
Speed: 8/10, Race-craft: 8.5/10, Endurance Factor: 9/10, Overall: 25.5/30

Car 021: Kayne Scott / Chris Pither (Team Kiwi Racing)
Whoops! Turning up to an endurance race with only one engine, which failed in the first lap of practice: that was the story of TKR’s Phillip Island 500 weekend. Since then, TKR has copped plenty of public criticism for its lack of preparation, and many other team owners have expressed their disapproval. It is a shame for the drivers; Kayne Scott has no shortage of experience, and young Chris Pither has shown plenty of talent in the Fujitsu Series and V8 Utes. However, given TKR’s seemingly dire circumstances and the car’s patchy reliability throughout 2008, Pither and Scott will do well just to finish the race.
Speed: 2/10, Race-craft: 4/10, Endurance Factor: 0.5/10, Overall: 6.5/30

Car 25: Jason Bright / Adam Macrow (Britek Motorsport)
Jason Bright almost pulled off a massive Bathurst upset last year, thanks to some clever strategy that saw the Britek entry cruising under the radar until close to the end of the race, when Bright contended for victory before being caught out by the wet conditions. Bright’s racing ability is well-proven, and Macrow is a former Fujitsu Series champion and finished third at Bathurst in 2005. The downside is that Bright’s operation simply doesn’t have anywhere near as much funding as most other teams, and this could have a negative impact on the team’s preparation for the event.
Speed: 5.5/10, Race-craft: 7.5/10, Endurance Factor: 6/10, Overall: 19/30

Car 26: Marcus Marshall / Matthew Halliday (Britek Motorsport)
Expectations for this entry at Bathurst will be low, but Marcus Marshall has had some impressive results in Carrera Cup and Fujitsu Series racing in the past, and did a season in Champ Car in 2005, while Kiwi Matthew Halliday has had plenty of international experience, including A1GP. The Britek team lacks resources compared to a lot of other teams though, so a top-20 finish would be a good effort.
Speed: 2.5/10, Race-craft: 3.5/10, Endurance Factor: 3/10, Overall: 9/30

Car 33: Lee Holdsworth / Michael Caruso (Garry Rogers Motorsport)
A fine fifth place in the Phillip Island 500 firmly establishes this entry as a genuine contender for a podium finish at Bathurst. Holdsworth has shown experience and class beyond his years, generally hovering around the top-five this season, and challenging for podiums in the longer races, like the Clipsal 500, where he finished second overall. Caruso is only in his first year in the main-game, but has shown plenty of potential already. Look for this car in the top-three on lap 161.
Speed: 8/10, Race-craft: 8.5/10, Endurance Factor: 8.5/10, Overall: 25/30

Car 34: Greg Ritter / Steve Ellery (Garry Rogers Motorsport)
While all the attention in the GRM fan club will be focused on the #33 car, the second car always performs strongly on the Mountain. Last year, Greg Ritter was the only driver on wet tyres in the last stint, and would have been challenging for victory had the rain lasted. At Phillip Island, he and Ellery finished on the lead lap, demonstrating that they certainly have the endurance ability, if not the outright pace. Overall, these drivers are a fair bet for a top-10 finish.
Speed: 5/10, Race-craft: 6/10, Endurance Factor: 7/10, Overall: 18/30

Car 39: Russell Ingall / Paul Morris (Paul Morris Motorsport)
Russell Ingall’s recent speedy form and Paul Morris’s consistency in the Phillip Island 500 have signalled this car as a dark horse, not just for a podium finish, but a chance at outright victory. Ingall has lifted this team from the mid-field to the top-five, and Morris has benefited in terms of speed, although his aggression has handicapped his ability to achieve results in the sprint rounds. However, Morris was far more restrained than usual at Phillip Island and he has a good record at Bathurst, so this car should not be discounted.
Speed: 8/10, Race-craft: 7.5/10, Endurance Factor: 8/10, Overall: 23.5/30

Car 50: Andrew Thompson / Paul Weel (Paul Weel Racing)
Originally, PWR didn’t even plan on contesting the 2008 V8 Supercar Championship, but when they needed to use their license, and young talent Andrew Thompson became available, they made a last minute decision to run a single car. Thompson has had some good showings in the sprint races, and Paul Weel is a very experienced V8 Supercar driver, but it is unlikely they will have the outright pace to be a serious threat.
Speed: 4/10, Race-craft: 4/10, Endurance Factor: 3/10, Overall: 11/30

Car 51: Mark Noske / Dale Wood (Tasman Motorsport)
Mark Noske has plenty of experience around Mt Panorama, but has not done much regular racing in the recent past, while Dale Wood been fast, if inconsistent, in the Fujitsu V8 Supercar Series. Tasman’s main focus will be on the lead Richards / Murphy car, leaving Noske and Wood to aim for a top-15 finish.
Speed: 3/10, Race-craft: 3.5/10, Endurance Factor: 3/10, Overall: 9.5/30

Car 55: Tony D’Alberto / Jason Bargwanna (Rod Nash Racing)
Tony D’Alberto won the Fujitsu V8 Supercar Series last year, but has found the transition to the main-game pretty tough. There’s no doubt the ex-Walkinshaw Performance Commodore has the pace, and D’Alberto has improved steadily in recent rounds, but there is still a long way to go. Bargwanna, meanwhile, needs a strong showing as he tries to catapult himself back into a full-time seat. A top-15 finish would be a realistic expectation.
Speed: 4/10, Race-craft: 5/10, Endurance Factor: 4.5/10, Overall: 13.5/30

Car 67: Matt Neal / Boris Said (Paul Morris Motorsport)
Some overseas drivers, like Win Percy, Tom Walkinshaw and more recently, John Cleland have achieved good results at Bathurst in the past. However, things aren’t looking so good for this entry after the Phillip Island 500, with both BTCC driver Neal and NASCAR steerer Said qualifying at the back of the field. Nevertheless, both drivers worked forward in the race and ended up 19th, so a commendable result is attainable at Bathurst provided Neal and Said avoid damage.
Speed: 2.5/10, Race-craft: 4/10, Endurance Factor: 4/10, Overall: 10.5/30

Car 88: Fabrizio Giovanardi / Marc Hynes (Triple 8 Motorsport)
Triple 8 Motorsport team owner Roland Dane insists on pairing foreign drivers in the team’s second car, and last year, that decision paid dividends, with Allan Simonsen and Richard Lyons finishing fifth at Bathurst. Giovanardi and Hynes don’t have much experience in V8 Supercars, but both drivers have proven their talent overseas, and will be looking to further demonstrate their abilities on one of the world’s toughest circuits.
Speed: 4/10, Race-craft: 6.5/10, Endurance Factor: 5/10, Overall: 15.5/30

Car 111: Fabian Coulthard / Alex Davison (Paul Cruickshank Racing)
Fabian Coulthard has had a really good season, especially by single car team standards. In the Phillip Island 500, he was paired with John McIntyre, and although the final result didn’t show it, the team performed well throughout the weekend. At Bathurst, Coulthard will be teamed with Alex Davison, a driver with a solid Bathurst record. A top-10 finish will be expected, but a top-five finish is well within reach.
Speed: 7/10, Race-craft: 7/10, Endurance Factor: 7/10, Overall: 21/30

Car 777: Michael Patrizi / Karl Reindler (Ford Rising Stars Racing)
It has been a tough initiation to V8 Supercars for Michael Patrizi, and the team’s Bathurst preparation was not helped by an unfortunate accident for Patrizi’s Phillip Island 500 co-driver Grant Denyer. The team drafted Karl Reinder into the suddenly available seat, and it was probably a good choice; Reinder has made an impressive transition from open-wheelers to touring cars in the Fujitsu Series. However, considering the overall lack of Bathurst experience for this team, a top-20 finish would be an achievement.
Speed: 2/10, Race-craft: 2.5/10, Endurance Factor: 3/10, Overall: 7.5/30

Car 888: Jamie Whincup / Craig Lowndes (Triple Eight Motorsport)
These drivers are aiming for a hat-trick of race wins, and they are looking pretty good to do just that. Their strategy in the Phillip Island 500 was perfect, and both drivers are well matched: Whincup is very fast, Lowndes has impeccable race craft, especially in the wet. It is hard to find a weakness for these drivers; even when they make mistakes in endurance races, they always seem to fight back. The only possible chink in the armour is a very slight lack of outright pace compared to Winterbottom or Tander.
Speed: 9/10, Race-craft: 9.5/10, Endurance Factor: 10/10, Overall: 28.5/30

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Cocky Lachy''s Panoramic Predictions