How Triple Eight can clinch teams' title in Surfers
Two championships could be decided on the streets of Surfers Paradise, and both could head to Banyo.
Shane van Gisbergen holds a 567-point lead over Cam Waters and is odds-on to become a three-time champion.
Van Gisbergen was set to clinch the title in Bathurst before Waters made two title-saving overtakes late on.
However, a one-five result edged Red Bull Ampol Racing towards a record-extending 11th teams’ title.
Red Bull Ampol Racing entered Bathurst with a 341-point lead over Shell V-Power Racing Team.
With two rounds remaining, the margin is now a staggering 671 points.
It blew out largely due to the shock late DNF for Will Davison, who is now also 902 points behind van Gisbergen.
The equation is simple for Triple Eight should it clinch its 11th championship in Surfers Paradise.
Dick Johnson Racing most outscore Triple Eight by 95 points to take the fight to Adelaide.
It’s a tall order considering the Ford squad has only outscored its rivals on a race weekend once this season, in Adelaide.
Furthermore, Triple Eight won the two more recent Gold Coast races in 2019, van Gisbergen winning on the Sunday.
The Shell V-Power Racing Team took the lead in Darwin, albeit by 14 points.
Red Bull Ampol Racing snatched it back in Townsville, albeit by 10 points.
In four rounds, DJR benched 661 points to its Holden rivals.
Red Bull Ampol Racing could even clinch the title on the Saturday should it end the day 864 points ahead.
That would require the reigning champions to outscore its Ford rivals by 193 points in Race 31.
In a nutshell, the Shell V-Power team strictly cannot afford a Saturday DNF.
It goes both ways, considering DJR’s Bathurst struggles were compounded by strong results by their rivals.
Waters is now 210 points clear of Anton De Pasquale and 335 ahead of Davison.
DJR is also in danger of having no drivers in the top three in the championship for a second year running.
Chaz Mostert, who finished third in 2021, is now just 25 points behind De Pasquale following his second place in Bathurst.
2022 teams’ championship battle
Points available across final two rounds/four races: 1152 (288 per race)Triple Eight's current advantage over DJR: 671Points available after Gold Coast Saturday: 864Points available after Gold Coast: 576
Most teams’ championship wins
10: Triple Eight (2008, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2018, 2021)5: Holden Racing Team (1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2009)3: Stone Brothers Racing (2003, 2004, 2005)3: DJR Team Penske (2017, 2019, 2020)2: HSV Dealer Team (2006, 2007)
