The familiar notion of a factory Ford driver leading the V8 Supercar Championship standings has once again come to fruition following the opening four rounds of the 2015 series.
Prodrive Racing Australia’s Mark ‘Frosty’ Winterbottom remains in control of the standings, 12 points clear of Triple Eight and Holden-backed rival Craig Lowndes, while reigning series champion Jamie Whincup sits further adrift in fourth.
Frosty’s lead has been helped largely by the four wins accumulated across the last six races; spanning the Perth and Winton events of the championship. And of course, the aerodynamically sound FG X chassis has been a great contributor.
Enjoying the lead at this point in the championship is something that Prodrive (under their previous Ford Performance Racing moniker) are well accustomed to.
At the conclusion of the Darwin round in 2014, Winterbottom had amassed a 161-point lead, assisted by four race wins. Similarly in 2012, Will Davison cavorted away early on before Whincup (on both occasions) romped to title success through the rest of their respective campaigns.
Those four wins in the first phase of the previous season were the only victories that the 2013 Bathurst champion ultimately acquired that year. With the addition of their new chassis, Prodrive have displayed a sense of rejuvenation and newfound speed.
Their domination of the non-championship round at the Australian Grand Prix demonstrated the true speed that the FG X possessed on one of the most demanding circuits in Australia.
While this speed was absent for the two Pepsi Max-backed machines at Symmons Plains, they were back on top come Perth. Chaz Mostert broke the outfit’s pole position drought, which dated to Phillip Island in 2013, and since then has claimed five of the last six poles – a realisation of the FG X’s all-round ability.
Having personally asked Mostert at the non-championship event about his favourite element of the new chassis, the 2014 Bathurst champion remarked, the “more responsive front end” which it provided.
Despite this narrow lead over Lowndes, there is little room for complacency. The speed is there, however the next four rounds of the series are critical in gaining more clarity as to whether they can seal the deal.
While Winterbottom and co. are renowned for their electric starts to the season, Whincup in contrast struggles, prior to exploiting the lack of performance which Prodrive/FPR endures through the middle phase, to run away with the championship.
Darwin and the subsequent Townsville, Ipswich and Eastern Creek events represent the true test for the updated, final iteration Ford Falcon. If competitiveness can be maintained across these four events, then the likelihood of ultimate success is greater.
As puzzling as Whincup’s form slump may be, it could be short lived, as in his previous campaign the reigning champion won six of the twelve races across the four events in the crucial intermediate phase of the season.
Lowndes, who certainly appears the form driver of the Triple Eight duo, will be relentless in his push for that elusive 100th win in the category. The likes of James Courtney and Shane van Gisbergen cannot be ruled out either despite their recent barren patches, while Fabian Coulthard’s consistency has elevated him to third in the standings for the Brad Jones Racing operation.
Consistency, not complacency, will be the key for Prodrive to solidify an entire season. Too familiar is the sight of early success, yet failing to string together the rest of the campaign.
Nevertheless, with the more robust FG X under their belt 2015 is the best chance that the Blue Oval has of achieving overall glory, prior to their supposed and unfortunate departure as a factory presence in the category.
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