'Lnowdes' and Jamie get the 'call' for new livery.

by Matthew Agius

Triple Eight Race Engineering Australia will adorn teaser liveries at this weekend's Caterpillar Grand Finale, the final deciding round of the V8 Supercar Championship, on the BA Falcons of Craig Lowndes and Jamie Whincup.

After Betta Electrical stores in Australia collapsed, Triple Eight has elected to begin its deal with Vodafone a round early, with Vodafone signage appearing on the bonnet and sides of both of the Gold Coast team's Ford Falcons.

Lowndes' car also has a slight humorous touch with the word 'Lnowdes' sprawled across the side doors - a clever reference to the current slogan being utilised by Vodafone Australia 'make the most of now'. Whincup's Falcon livery will comprise his surname splashed across the side of the #88 car in Vodafone font.

It would be a fantastic initiation for Vodafone to the V8 Supercar Championship if Lowndes won the 2006 championship, and team principal Roland Dane said that the whole team is keen to deliver their new sponsor a championship title.

"Vodafone will make its first appearance on our Falcons this weekend, with their brand statement 'make the most of now' featuring prominently for the round," he said.

"It is great that we have this opportunity to provide them with a branding platform in the most crucial race of the year for the team, and I am certain both Craig and Jamie will do a fantastic job to round out the season, with the goal of winning our first championship firmly fixated in everyone's sights."

Lowndes sits just seven points adrift of current championship leader Rick Kelly (Toll HSV Dealer Team). To win the championship, Lowndes need only finish ahead of Kelly in all three races. The three-time former champion believes he can win the championship, but is hoping the race will go wet.

"This will be a true Ford versus Holden battle, and the pressure is really going to be on Rick and myself to get the job done," Lowndes admitted.

"He will be hard to beat, and I think it will be the case of the last man standing at the end of the weekend, with both the Falcon and Commodore very evenly matched.

"Phillip Island is a track that rewards a set-up which allows the car to flow through the wide open corners, and accelerate strongly and smoothly onto the straights.

"It's one of my favourite tracks on the calendar, and I feel I'm actually at my strongest here when it is raining, so I'm hoping for a wet race."

A change is forecast for Sunday 10 December - the final day of racing for the championship - so Lowndes may have his wish granted by the end of the series.