Teammates' plan to put pressure on Best

Best leads Allen by 66 points; Murray third, 129 points behind
Best has led the points since Newcastle season-opener
Eggleston could become first team since 2016 to finish one-two

Eggleston Motorsport teammates Kai Allen and Cooper Murray are hopeful of executing a combined attack on Zak Best to cut the series leader’s Super2 points lead.

Heading to this weekend’s Dunlop Series round at Sandown, Best leads Allen by 66 points, with Murray 63 points behind his teammate.

Anderson Motorsport driver Best has led since the Newcastle season-opener, but the deficit behind has been changing all the time.

Best took a 48-point lead over Murray to Townsville, where the latter was penalised over an incident with Aaron Love. It was in Townsville, however, where Allen shone, winning Race 1 and the round as he battled with Best.

Allen and Murray also have Cameron Crick and Jordyn Sinni in their corner, with the priority closing the gap to Best and putting the points leader under pressure.

“We’re back in the title fight after Townsville, I went from seventh to second in one weekend,” Allen told Supercars.com.

“We’ve got to go out there and do the best job we can as always, and cut the deficit to Zak.

“Coops and I are competitors even though we’re at the same team, we’re fighting for the same prize — but we have to be smart, race hard but fair, and not stuff each other over.

“We both want to win the title, but Coops and I will work together — it’d be better to be first and second in the points for example, rather than first and fourth or something."

Key to Allen and Murray’s hopes are not only having both cars up the front, but ensuring they both stay out of trouble. It wasn’t the case in Perth, where Allen sent Murray into a spin, although it came on a weekend Best missed the podium altogether.

Eggleston Motorsport, which last won the Super2 title courtesy of Paul Dumbrell in 2014, could become the first team since Prodrive Racing Australia in 2016 to secure a one-two finish in the Super2 points.

For Murray, who won the first race of the season, starting the Sandown weekend on the front foot will be crucial as his team aims to score its first title in nine years — and crucially, deny two-time runner-up Best his first.

“Same as every weekend, you’re always going in hoping to get a win,” Murray told Supercars.com.

“Townsville was difficult for us — not getting the set-up right on Saturday set us back. The aim is to get it sorted from Friday practice and come out strong.

“If we do that, hopefully we close in on Zak and put him under pressure. We have to attack, but be smart. If there’s a chance at Zak, but it’s difficult, perhaps we might consolidate.

“But we’ve still got three rounds to go, and Sandown, Bathurst and Adelaide are big races, anything can happen.

“If we’re both up the front, it’s a good thing — if we can take points off Zak, that’s the ideal scenario. Any points is better than nothing, we’ve seen it come down to the last race before.

"Every point is valuable, and we have to ensure we minimise Zak’s scoring."

Dunlop Series drivers will hit the track for the first time at the Penrite Sandown Oil 500 for Practice 1 on Friday at 9:50am AEST.