Skaife will rise to the top: Brock
3/2/2002 23:53 (V8 Wire - Jason Whittaker) -
The Holden Racing Team’s Mark Skaife is an irresistible favourite to win the 2002 V8 Supercar championship, a record-equalling fifth, according to the sport’s most respected alumni, Peter Brock.
Brock, a three-time Touring Car champion, told Brisbane’s Sunday Mail newspaper that he expected Ford’s beefed-up challenge to be formidable this year, but not strong enough to dethrone the reigning champion.
“He has to be the logical one,” he said of Skaife’s chances, “particularly when you consider HRT is the most together team.
“Through the season, thick or thin, the cream rises to the top.”
Brock considers Russell Ingall as the likely challenger (“three cars might stretch the Perkins team, though”), while Ford’s Craig Lowndes “could do it.”
“(Lowndes is) Ford’s shining light,” he said. “But I feel the (Gibson Motorsport) team hasn’t quite gelled yet.
“If effort counts for anything, Ford will be looking pretty good. I haven’t seen as much effort from Ford since the days of Howard Marsden and Allan Moffat a decade ago. It’s going to be a very challenging year for Holden.”
Brock said 2001 Rookie of the Year, Marcos Ambrose, was another that could do well, but was unsure if he could “grab the sport by the scruff of the neck like Lowndes did.”
Brock, who was recently named one of the world’s most exciting racers in a British poll, will oversee his own Holden-powered team this season, with Craig Baird and son James at the wheel.
“It looks a ripper championship. It really could be a year to remember,” he said.
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