Oran Park: TeamVodafone preview

TeamVodafone on verge of first V8 Supercar championship

TeamVodafone is on the verge of scoring its maiden V8 Supercar Championship title as the season comes to a close this weekend. Jamie Whincup will enter the NRMA Motoring & Services Grand Finale as favourite, currently enjoying a buffer of 233 points over second place. The winner of six rounds this season, including a current streak of four dominant wins in a row, Whincup's lead could see him secure the championship as early as Saturday's opening 46-lap race. The 25-year-old has enjoyed a flawless run in the second-half of the season, taking the highest or equal-highest points haul from every event since Winton at the beginning of August. He has vowed to do what it takes to get the job done as early as possible this weekend in order to secure both the driver's championship as well as helping Triple Eight to score its first team's championship.

"I'm very excited about this weekend, I still can't believe we're already at the final round of this year's championship," said Whincup. "It has been a tough year and I feel like I need a break, but on the other hand it has been so much fun. "For me, this weekend is all about scoring the necessary 68 points. The only change to my approach is that I am a little more nervous than usual, but that's probably understandable, given the circumstances.

"This is the real deal - this is what I've worked my whole career to achieve."

Whincup will enter the event with 3,208 points next to his name, and only needs to accumulate 68 points across the course of the entire weekend to be assured of the title. Craig Lowndes is gunning for another podium finish after sharing the celebratory spray of champagne with his teammate for the past two rounds. Lowndes has played an integral role in the team's most successful season to date and is aiming to finish off the year, and the last ever V8 Supercar race at Oran Park, on a high note.

"We head into Oran Park as the form team of the competition, everything is working well for TeamVodafone at the moment," said Lowndes. "Everyone has stepped it up a level and as a result we've enjoyed some fantastic results in the past few rounds. "It's exciting to know that we are not only just a few races away from Jamie taking the driver's championship, that we are also in the box seat for the team's championship as well.

"It will be sad to see Oran Park host its last V8 race. It's a fantastic layout, unlike any other permanent circuit in Australia, and it will certainly be missed next year."

The three-time champion is still in with a mathematical shot at third place in the title race this weekend, currently fourth on 2619 points.

-credit: tv