Tander explains Finals dilemma for co-drivers
Garth Tander explains Finals dilemma for co-drivers
Seven Finals spots still up for grabs across Enduro Cup races
465 points separating seventh from 17th with 600 points remaining
The upcoming Ryco Enduro Cup will shape The Finals picture, and Supercars legend Garth Tander believes co-drivers will be more mindful than ever to deliver.
Broc Feeney, Matt Payne and Will Brown have punched their ticket into The Finals, but there are still seven positions still up for grabs for the post-season.
After eight multi-race rounds, the AirTouch 500 at The Bend and Repco Bathurst 1000 will offer 300 points for the winner.
With 465 points separating seventh from 17th, there could be plenty of movement in the standings as drivers fight for the remaining Finals spots.
Notably, 10th-placed Thomas Randle is just 20 points ahead of 11th-placed Kai Allen, putting respective co-drivers James Moffat and Dale Wood under pressure to get the job done.
There are seven rookies in the field, with Harri Jones the only driver without prior experience in a Supercar. The Porsche champion is one of many co-drivers under the pump, given primary Anton De Pasquale is seventh, yet far from safe.
Tander insisted co-drivers must keep their cool at The Bend and Bathurst, or risk undoing their teammates’ efforts.
"The big thing is, 600 points for these two races,” Tander said post-Ipswich.
“You have a huge amount of points and there's going to be a massive swing over the next two events when we set the Finals contenders.
“You need to be mindful of as a co-driver going in, that you've got your primary driver's year so far in your hands when you're driving the race car, when they're a Finals contender.
“For any of those cars that are 40 points between eighth and 11th, those co-drivers in particular have to be very mindful when they're in the car not to do something to jeopardise the result in that race.”
Tander is in the privileged position of not jeopardising Payne’s Finals hopes, given the Penrite Racing driver is a mathematical lock.
However, poor results could still drop Payne to as low as seventh in the rankings for the first Finals round at the Gold Coast.
"I'm actually quite happy because Matt's got more than 600 points safe over 10, so I can do whatever I want and we'll be still in the Finals, but I'm not going to do that,” Tander added.
“It absolutely has been part of the thinking going as the endurance races come up, that you need to be mindful of that."
The Ryco Enduro Cup commences at the AirTouch 500 at The Bend on September 12-14, followed by the Repco Bathurst 1000 on October 9-12. Tickets are on sale now.
