Motorsport: Frosty best hope for blue oval

Mark Winterbottom appears to be Ford's best shot at V8 Supercar championship glory as the season opens in Adelaide. Photo / Getty Images

ADELAIDE - Ford's new No.1 man Mark Winterbottom says there are no excuses for failure after his best ever start in his quest for a maiden V8 Supercar championship.

Winterbottom sits second in the points standings going into this weekend's Clipsal 500 in Adelaide - confirming his status as Ford's best hope of winning the title after Jamie Whincup and Craig Lowndes' departure to Holden.

But ahead of him is two-time defending champion Whincup, the sport's new Mr Perfect and raging title favourite after winning the opening four races of the season in the Middle East.

Winterbottom has finished top five in the series for the past four years, but the Ford Performance Racing (FPR) driver's best season remains his second place finish in 2008.

The 28-year-old admits the added responsibility of being seen as Ford's best hope of avoiding complete Holden domination is something he hopes to use to his advantage.

"There's a bigger consequence if we don't win now. There's pressure and we have to step up, but there's opportunity as well," Winterbottom said.

"FPR should be winning races. There's no excuse that we shouldn't.

"We've got great people, good funding, all the ingredients. Last year we didn't turn it into results.

"There's an opportunity to step up and win a championship for Ford. Because you're racing for Ford fans, it is a bit of a different feeling now."

Also boosting Winterbottom's confidence is reuniting with engineer Campbell Little, the man he worked with when winning the second-tier development series in 2003 and regarded as one of the best technical minds in pit lane.

But in their way is Whincup, who has won three of the past four Clipsal 500s and hasn't been beaten at the Adelaide street circuit since 2007.

Bookmakers are banking on more Whincup wizardry in Adelaide, with V8bet.com establishing him a $1.65 favourite to win the championship and a short $2.50 quote to win race one at the Clipsal 500.

While Whincup and Winterbottom are off to flyers, just as many eyes will be on Holden Racing Team's Garth Tander and Will Davison who had disastrous starts to the season in the four Middle East races.

Last year's runner-up Davison is languishing 13th, while Tander is even worse off in 22nd spot.

The pair desperately need big bags of points in Adelaide or their championship hopes will be in tatters.

The Clipsal 500 started yesterday with support races and off-track entertainment.

The V8s start practice today, with two 250km races on Saturday and Sunday.

More than 270,000 are expected to attend over the four days.

- AAP