Dane backs Lowndes in title fight

Given the current V8 Supercars Championship standings, team boss Roland Dane has declared Red Bull's best shot at the 2015 title lies with second-placed Craig Lowndes.

Dane has complete faith in the 41-year old fan favourite's ability to take the trophy - who sits 256 points behind leader Mark Winterbottom - showing exactly why he is expanding his team to three cars next season to accommodate Lowndes.

Triple Eight is on a recruitment drive to find the right people for the team next year, when Shane van Gisbergen will join Lowndes and six-time champ Jamie Whincup - but the focus is still very much on this season and clinching that points lead.

Dane believes his squad made gains at the last event at Queensland Raceway - "whether they work everywhere, I don't know," he said - and will continue to push to be in a position to pounce in the coming rounds.

"We're trying to get to a position where we can win the championship - if we're in that position it almost certainly comes from Craig given the points position," Dane told v8supercars.com.au.

"Jamie has had eight years of running at the front - he's been first or second for eight years - and it never goes on forever. There's always going to be a point at which it doesn't but that's accepted."

While Whincup is known for his never-say-die attitude, fighting back from his current position would be the toughest feat of his V8 Supercars career, with the gap between he and long-time foe Winterbottom now out to 480 points.

Dane believes Whincup will support his teammate's quest for what would be Lowndes' first V8 Supercars Championship victory since 1999 and continues to focus on improving as a team.

"I think, at the end of the day, if Jamie sees the opportunity to help Craig consolidate a good championship outcome, I suspect he'll help him," Dane said.

"At the same time, I'm sure he'll be focused on having the best possible enduro campaign with one of his best mates [Paul Dumbrell] I'd say."

While Winterbottom and young teammate Chaz Mostert have seemed almost unstoppable at the front, Dane pointed out that Lowndes was able to hold both at bay across the races in Queensland.

"We beat Mostert one day and we beat Winterbottom the next," he said.

"We didn't have anything for Mostert on Sunday really, but we were the next best. And on Saturday Craig was all over Frosty and would've beaten him if he had've gotten through turn one properly.

"So we were very pleased with that show of speed - but it's one track."

This weekend hosts the last sprint round before the PIRTEK Enduro Cup kicks off, and from there it's a packed schedule through to the finale, with events back-to-back from Bathurst onwards. Dane agrees it will be hard work for the teams - but will produce a worthy Champion come December.

"It'll be a challenge," he said of the remainder of the season.

"What the outcome is - if I knew, I'd know if I needed to do things differently ... Bathurst, Gold Coast, New Zealand, Phillip Island and Homebush, bang, bang [one after another] is a big ask, but that's the way it should be.

"Sort everyone out and you come out with a worthy Champion at the end."

A fascinating battle is set to play out between Prodrive and Triple Eight - with others like Brad Jones Racing's Fabian Coulthard and Holden Racing Team's James Courtney also in contention - with any number of drivers able to take wins on the day.

After 20 races there have been eight different winners, with all manufacturers having earned podium finishes and four of the five nabbing pole positions.

"That's the interest of the sport, trying to see what happens over the next second half of the championship, that's what's making it interesting," Dane said.

"Hopefully it's a good show - regardless of the outcome."

The Sydney Motorsport Park SuperSprint kicks off on Friday, with two 60km races to follow on Saturday, and one 200km dash on Sunday.