HOLDEN 1
02-01-2008, 07:03 AM
One day after revealing his own plans for the season, including signing defending champion Garth Tander to the Holden Racing Team, Skaife has forecast a torrid tussle with big repair bills for all serious contenders.
And he said there were at least six legitimate title aspirants, including himself and Tander, with as many as a dozen drivers up for individual race wins.
"This is going to be the toughest year on record. It will be absolutely rip, tear and bust," Skaife said yesterday.
"There are more good drivers in good cars than we have ever seen. It's inevitable that a few blokes are going to be running into each other."
The V8 veteran said the challenge from Tander should rejuvenate his passion for racing. And that could keep him in a HRT Commodore for three or four more years.
He has already had his first win of 2008 after being handed an overdue victory in the Clipsal 500 contest of 2000.
The Adelaide victory was one of his best, as he went from last to first on Sunday afternoon following a non-finish in the first heat on Saturday.
"I'm happy to take any win. So my total is now up from 38 to 39," Skaife said.
"I've only just found out about it. It came about because the winner on Sunday is called the Clipsal 500 winner and that was me."
Turning to 2008, Skaife nominated Craig Lowndes as the driver to beat for the title but named himself Tander, Rick Kelly, Mark Winterbottom and Jamie Whincup as legitimate contenders.
And he said their rivalry would bring the biff back.
"When the intensity is up you tend to have a few more dramas," Skaife said.
"It will come from desperation to win. Absolute enthusiasm.
"And that's what has me fired up for this year, just like the other blokes. The level of intensity we saw in the last couple of meetings in 2007 will be there right from the start in season '08."
Please note this was a media release
And he said there were at least six legitimate title aspirants, including himself and Tander, with as many as a dozen drivers up for individual race wins.
"This is going to be the toughest year on record. It will be absolutely rip, tear and bust," Skaife said yesterday.
"There are more good drivers in good cars than we have ever seen. It's inevitable that a few blokes are going to be running into each other."
The V8 veteran said the challenge from Tander should rejuvenate his passion for racing. And that could keep him in a HRT Commodore for three or four more years.
He has already had his first win of 2008 after being handed an overdue victory in the Clipsal 500 contest of 2000.
The Adelaide victory was one of his best, as he went from last to first on Sunday afternoon following a non-finish in the first heat on Saturday.
"I'm happy to take any win. So my total is now up from 38 to 39," Skaife said.
"I've only just found out about it. It came about because the winner on Sunday is called the Clipsal 500 winner and that was me."
Turning to 2008, Skaife nominated Craig Lowndes as the driver to beat for the title but named himself Tander, Rick Kelly, Mark Winterbottom and Jamie Whincup as legitimate contenders.
And he said their rivalry would bring the biff back.
"When the intensity is up you tend to have a few more dramas," Skaife said.
"It will come from desperation to win. Absolute enthusiasm.
"And that's what has me fired up for this year, just like the other blokes. The level of intensity we saw in the last couple of meetings in 2007 will be there right from the start in season '08."
Please note this was a media release