By Matthew Agius

Roland Dane is a man fully committed to winning in motorsport. Triple Eight Race Engineering Australia has the opportunity to do so this weekend, and under Dane has achieved much in V8 Supercars. He spoke to Crash.net Radio with his thoughts on 2006 and the future in 2007.

Dane has led Triple Eight Race Engineering Australia for the past three years, and has experienced many high and low points. When speaking to Crash.net however, he revealed that the Triple Eight Race Engineering Falcons have not been as quick at the business end of the year than he would have liked.

“I honestly don't know,” said Dane when asked of team leader Craig Lowndes chances for the championship.

“Its tight, we haven't got particularly good car speed so I don't know how that's going to play out in the last race but it could be when we go to Phillip Island where its all to play for.

“Craig was on pole there last year, so its all still up in the air. Whatever happens, at the end of the day we've got Bathurst in the bank and that's the biggest single thing in the year in Australia.

“We've won more races that anyone else, more rounds of the championship this year -as we have over the last year as well - so whatever happens I won't be too unhappy, but for sure we'd like to win it.

“The way the points structure is in Australia at the moment is, its going to change next year, but right now it just rewards consistency and Rick Kelly - the main opposition for the championship this year - hasn't won a round all year, but he has been plugging away getting points.

Triple Eight Race Engineering has had an interesting few years in V8 racing. After taking over Briggs Motorsport midway through 2003, the team has enjoyed a relatively strong period in their three years in Australia. However despite winning the most races and rounds in 2005 and 2006, the team has been unable to clinch a championship, and, when in the box seat to maintain a lead in the 2006 series, Lowndes has fallen behind Rick Kelly in the standings.

“You can see we've had the speed a lot of the time. This is our third season here. The first season was very mixed – we only had one podium - but the second and third have been good with race wins.

“It's the consistency sometimes that we've been lacking and Craig (Lowndes) has had a bit of bad luck as well – the last race in Tasmania was no fault of his at all, which has affected the points.