Mark Skaife has failed to win a solo event of the V8 Supercar Championship since the Clipsal 500 Adelaide in 2003. With the Holden Racing Team being soundly outperformed by its fellow Holden frontrunners at the end of season 2005, Mark Skaife will need to hold his team’s flag high as it attempts to resurrect itself as a championship title threat after the setbacks of the famously disastrous 2004 championship.
Todd Kelly will aim to outperform his veteran teammate again in 2006. With two round wins to his name in 2005, he remains one of Holden’s best drivers in top machinery. However his consistency and raw speed will need to be taken up a notch if he is to challenge for more victories in 2006.
Final Word
Skaife: It’s crunch time for this former champion – Skaife must win a solo round in 2006.
Kelly: A strong performance in 2005 indicates another good year in 2006.
Tasman Motorsport
Jason Richards (#3 VZ Commodore), Andrew Jones (#23 VZ Commodore)
A significant sponsorship loss heading into the new championship is not the best start for the Preston-based outfit, but Tasman Motorsport is shaping up as the likely dark horse of the V8 Supercar Series for 2006.
Jason Richards remains team leader of Tasman Motorsport after re-signing with the team at the end of 2005. He is perhaps one of the most underrated steerers in the championship, with a good, solid balance of raw speed and a level head. After two years of developing a front running car, Tasman and Richards may be dogged by the new reverse grid regulations, but pundits would be quietly confident that the lead car from this team will be a race contender in 2006.
