Tander not given up yet
Reigning V8 Supercar Champion Garth Tander has vowed to continue fighting and not give up in his quest for back-to-back titles following a disappointing weekend in Bahrain.
The Toll Holden Racing Team driver finished just 15th overall in the Gulf Air Desert 400 while Ford rival Jamie Whincup won the round, extending his points lead over Tander to 292 points with just two rounds remaining.
Tander’s luck did not change today after being turned around by title challenger Mark Winterbottom in Race 1 yesterday – the #1 Toll HRT Commodore finishing 11th in Race 2 this morning and 23rd in the final 32 lap race after again having been turned around.
“The championship is looking extremely tough and every race that goes by where you have a poor result makes it harder, said Tander.
“But it’s still mathematically possible. We’re miles behind so we need to go into full attack mode. The next two tracks we’re going to we’ve been very strong at the last two years, so we won’t be giving up without a fight.”
Team-mate Mark Skaife’s run of bad luck also continued after he was crashed out of Race 1 yesterday. The five-time Champion moved from rear of grid to 17th in Race 2, but like Tander was involved in the lap 2, turn 1 melee and had to park the #2 Toll HRT Commodore after just one lap this afternoon.
“What can you say?” bemused Skaife.
“It was just a shocking weekend for the Toll Holden Racing Team! Our car speed was never anywhere near where we needed it to be and we weren’t able to get it into the ‘window’ at any stage. These cars are so difficult when they’re under gripped, so when you battle with them like we have here in Bahrain you’re seriously not in the same race.”
Whincup’s team-mate, Craig Lowndes finished second with Supercheap Auto Racing Holden driver Russell Ingall claiming the final podium position.
The penultimate round of the 2008 V8 Supercar Series takes place at Symmons Plains Raceway, near Launceston, Tasmania in two weeks time, the final round at Sydney’s Oran Park a fortnight later.
