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After a four week absence, the V8 Supercars are back, as the field head to Darwin to race at Hidden Valley.
Now a tradition of the sport since 1998, the field heads to sunny Darwin during winter, to escape the cold and go racing.
Out goes the jacket and jeans as shorts and shirts become the preferred clothing in above 30 degrees.
It is one of those weekends where drivers, teams, and fans get into holiday mode as they embrace what the top end offers in hospitality.
It is one of the best events of the year for all involved. Heading into the event, everyone will be looking to stop Prodrive Racing. They have won five of the last six races with Mark Winterbottom winning four of them.
He now leads the championship by 12 points after winning the last race in Winton. Prodrive will be looking to continue that form this weekend in Darwin.
Here is what you need to know about the weekend, including a TV guide for the event.
Races – 2 x 60km and 1 x 200km – They are races 13-15 of season 2015.
Track Length – 2.86km – 21 laps for 60km andamp; 70 for 200km
Most wins – Russell Ingall, Mark Skaife, Craig Lowndes, and Jamie Whincup – 8
Most poles – Mark Winterbottom and Mark Skaife – 4
Last year’s winners – Race 1 – Jamie Whincup, Race 2 – Jamie Whincup, Race 3 – Mark Winterbottom
TV SCHEDULE –
FOXTEL – Friday 9am – 3:30pm, Saturday 9:20am – 6:00pm, Sunday 10:00am – 5:30pm
CHANNEL TEN – Saturday Highlights – 10:35pm – 11:30pm, Sunday 3:30pm – 4:30pm
ONE HD – Saturday Highlights – 8:00pm – 9:00pm, Sunday Highlights – 8:00pm – 9:00pm
Support categories – Aussie Racing Cars, Touring Car Masters, V8 Utes
Can Craig Lowndes win his 100th race this weekend?
Until Lowndes does this feat, it will always be talked about before a race weekend. At Darwin though, he has a good chance to do it.
After winning the first race at Darwin in 1998 the three-time champion has added seven more victories at the top end. His last win, though, was in 2012.
With the team winning six of the last eight races here Lowndes could break the feat in Darwin. He has been consistent this year, won races, and is second in the championship.
A good qualifying run could certainly see him crack the ton. It will be interesting to see if he can do it.
Can Prodrive continue their form?
As mentioned earlier the last two events – Winton and Perth – have been dominated by Prodrive Australia. They will be hoping to continue that this weekend in Darwin and have good history at the event.
In 2006 they won their first race with Jason Bright and have won five since with Winterbottom winning last year. In that race, which was the final race of the weekend, Winterbottom held off a fast finishing Shane Van Gisbergen to win a brilliant race.
They will be looking to repeat that with Winterbottom this year, after his four race wins out of the last six. The team are quick this year and have shown that with multiple pole positions and race wins.
The new Ford FG-X seems to be a better match against the other manufacturers and it is using its tyres well this year. They are the favourites this weekend and will be in contention.
Both Winterbottom and Chaz Mostert will be quick. Also look out for David Reynolds who finished in the top six in the last three races.
He has form at Darwin, with podiums and pole positions in 2013, and can surprise this weekend.
Déjà vu for Whincup?
Heading into the 2014 event here in Darwin, Whincup was struggling for form and results. He would turn around his season with two wins and a third at the event last year.
This would turn around his championship as he won 11 races– including the two in Darwin – and not finish outside of the top seven in his last 22 races.
As we enter this weekend, he is in a similar position, after a poor last four races in the championship. He is now fourth in the championship and will be looking for results this weekend.
With eight wins at the venue already you can expect Whincup to be around the mark. Can it turn his championship around though? That will be something to look out for.
Others to look out for:
James Courtney – Slipped to fifth in the championship, after leading at the conclusion on the Clipsal 500. Needs a big weekend.
Rick Kelly – Won his last race in V8 Supercars here in 2011. Would love to give Nissan their first win in 2015 at the top end.
Scott McLaughlin – Currently 16th in the championship. At some stage this season it will click for him. Will it be this weekend?
Stat of the weekend – Prodrive are going for seven pole positions in a row in the championship. The last team to do that was the Holden Dealer Team – Peter Brock – in 1980.
Prediction – Prodrive and Triple 888 have dominated the Darwin event in the last few years. They have won the last eight races and I expect that to continue. Lowndes will win his 100th race and Whincup and Winterbottom will win the other two races.
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