Johnners
Cricket Web: All-Time Legend
The SCA Bathurst 1000 just 10 days away, and is looking like being 1 of the most anticipated yet.
If the dream of winning Bathurst alone isn't enough to get the drivers going, each and everyone of them should be inspired by the feats of the Late Peter "Perfect" Brock, King of the Mountain.
Championship leader Craig Lowndes, along with his young gun teammate Jamie Whincup are, in the eyes of many, the favourites to win the single biggest motorsport event in Australia, and who could argue after such a scintilating drive from Lowndes to come from a lap down, to a podium finish at the recent Sandown 500.
However, the Lowndes/Whincup combination are sure to face some stiff opposition, particuluar from the pairing of the 2005 Bathurst Champ Mark Skaife, and his gun partner Garth Tander. Both drivers have been lightning quick this year, and things should be no different when they tackle the mountain. They were frightfully unlucky not to come away with the Sandown 500 crown, and if it weren't for the "Skaife" curse i've no doubt they would've romped home.
The Kelly gang is also a hot tip by many to take this years title. Todd & Rick are no doubt 2 of the quickest, and youngest, drivers in the series, and after a strong 2nd at Sandown, they are in the box seat to take it 1 step further at the mountain.
The last of the main challengers IMO comes from the ford corner in the "Factory Team" pairing of Jason Bright, and Mark "Frosty" Winterbottom. Coming of the high of taking just the FPR teams 2nd win at the Sandown 500, Bright and Frosty are serious contenders in this the greatest race.
Of the other pairings, the SBR's Russell Ingall/Luke Youlden and James Courtney/Glen Seton are dark horses as both driver pairings boast experience bathurst campaigners (Ingall, Seton) and 2 brilliant young, up and coming drivers (Courtney, Youlden).
Jack Daniels racing pair Steven Richards and Paul Dumbrell should not be discounted either. After a string of mechanical failures, and crashes in previous rounds, the pair will be hoping their lucks about to change, and with both drivers able to run at the pointy end of the field, they're a dangerous combination and not to be written off.
Greg Murphy & Cam McConville are in the same boat as Richo & Dumbrell, the Super Cheap Auto Racing Team pair have had a rotten run all series, but Murph is never to be discounted at bathurst. The Lap record holder by a mammoth 1+ seconds, Bathurst brings out the best in the Kiwi, and if lucks on his side, generally there's no stopping him on the mountain.
IMO the 2006 Super Cheap Auto Bathurst 1000 champion will come from 1 of these 8 pairings. The Ford pairings of Lowndes/Whincup, Bright/Frosty, Ingall/Youlden, and Courtney/Seton have the added incentive of trying to win ford's 1st bathurst title since 1998. Can the fords do it, or will it be yet another Bathurst victory to the Lions Den?
CARN THE FORDS!!!!!!!!!!
If the dream of winning Bathurst alone isn't enough to get the drivers going, each and everyone of them should be inspired by the feats of the Late Peter "Perfect" Brock, King of the Mountain.
Championship leader Craig Lowndes, along with his young gun teammate Jamie Whincup are, in the eyes of many, the favourites to win the single biggest motorsport event in Australia, and who could argue after such a scintilating drive from Lowndes to come from a lap down, to a podium finish at the recent Sandown 500.
However, the Lowndes/Whincup combination are sure to face some stiff opposition, particuluar from the pairing of the 2005 Bathurst Champ Mark Skaife, and his gun partner Garth Tander. Both drivers have been lightning quick this year, and things should be no different when they tackle the mountain. They were frightfully unlucky not to come away with the Sandown 500 crown, and if it weren't for the "Skaife" curse i've no doubt they would've romped home.
The Kelly gang is also a hot tip by many to take this years title. Todd & Rick are no doubt 2 of the quickest, and youngest, drivers in the series, and after a strong 2nd at Sandown, they are in the box seat to take it 1 step further at the mountain.
The last of the main challengers IMO comes from the ford corner in the "Factory Team" pairing of Jason Bright, and Mark "Frosty" Winterbottom. Coming of the high of taking just the FPR teams 2nd win at the Sandown 500, Bright and Frosty are serious contenders in this the greatest race.
Of the other pairings, the SBR's Russell Ingall/Luke Youlden and James Courtney/Glen Seton are dark horses as both driver pairings boast experience bathurst campaigners (Ingall, Seton) and 2 brilliant young, up and coming drivers (Courtney, Youlden).
Jack Daniels racing pair Steven Richards and Paul Dumbrell should not be discounted either. After a string of mechanical failures, and crashes in previous rounds, the pair will be hoping their lucks about to change, and with both drivers able to run at the pointy end of the field, they're a dangerous combination and not to be written off.
Greg Murphy & Cam McConville are in the same boat as Richo & Dumbrell, the Super Cheap Auto Racing Team pair have had a rotten run all series, but Murph is never to be discounted at bathurst. The Lap record holder by a mammoth 1+ seconds, Bathurst brings out the best in the Kiwi, and if lucks on his side, generally there's no stopping him on the mountain.
IMO the 2006 Super Cheap Auto Bathurst 1000 champion will come from 1 of these 8 pairings. The Ford pairings of Lowndes/Whincup, Bright/Frosty, Ingall/Youlden, and Courtney/Seton have the added incentive of trying to win ford's 1st bathurst title since 1998. Can the fords do it, or will it be yet another Bathurst victory to the Lions Den?
CARN THE FORDS!!!!!!!!!!
