Motorsport: Kiwis open throttle on V8 season

Shane van Gisbergen of Red Bull Holden Racing Team during the practice session. Photo / Edge Photographics

The 2018 Supercars championship gets underway on the streets of Adelaide today with the first of two races over the weekend. Five New Zealanders will line-up this season – all in competitive machinery. They talk to Dale Budge about the year ahead.

Fabian Coulthard Shell V-Power Ford

"We race to win. I have won junior categories — Formula Ford, Carrera Cup — and I've raced Supercars wanting to achieve exactly the same thing I've done in every other championship. It is a big goal of mine but there are 26 others that have the same goal. It is the toughest touring car championship in the world."

Richie Stanaway Tickford Ford

"I am really looking forward to getting the season started. It has been a long off-season for me–I haven't raced since Gold Coast last year. Rookies don't historically do that well in this series soIam not really sure ifIcan expect too much. I haven't raced many of these guys before and I don't know these tracks very well. I will try and go as fast as I can and see whereIend up."

Andre Heimgartner Nissan Motorsport

"Obviously it is good to be back in a good team and a good car and have some good equipment underneath me. It all looks pretty promising – the cars are pretty speedy. I think the package is there–it just needs to be put together. That is what they have been battling with the last couple of years–getting everything lined up. It is all about the one percenters here and there. We should definitely be top 10 and then anything above that would be a bonus.

Shane van Gisbergen Red Bull Holden Racing

"We had a lot of speed last year but there were a few things that went wrong. We tookafew risks on the engineering side and also on the driving side. We gave away a lot of good results. This year we want to not do that. The team has done an awesome job with the development of the new car."

Scott McLaughlin Shell V-Power Ford

"I would have raced a week after the disastrous final round in Newcastle if I was able to. Last year we made a couple of early mistakes that cost us–if we iron those out this year we are certainly going to be in a good spot later in the year. We will try and turn that negativity and how we were upset at the end of it intoaball of flames in our belly and come back with a bang this year."

Predictions for the 2018 Supercars season from our team of motorsport specialists

Last year's championship runner-up Scott McLaughlin will headline the Kiwi challenge while his Shell V-Power Ford teammate Fabian Coulthard should be right in the mix. Likewise 2016 champion Shane van Gisbergen, who combined with his Red Bull Holden Racing team to make too many mistakes last year to win the title, will be an obvious contender.

Richie Stanaway gets his first fulltime drive with the re-branded Tickford Racing Ford outfit. Stanaway is a classy driver but will need to learn a number of tracks, which could limit him. Andre Heimgartner gets another opportunity after a year in the wildness, joining the Nissan Motorsport team. He should be more relevant in a more competitive team in 2018.

2018 champion?

Dale Budge: Scott McLaughlin.
Eric Thompson: Shane van Gisbergen.
Bob McMurray: Shane van Gisbergen.
D'Arcy Waldegrave: Jamie Whincup

Who is a darkhorse?

Dale Budge: Fabian Coulthard.
Eric Thompson: Richie Stanaway.
Bob McMurray: David Reynolds.
D'Arcy Waldegrave: Chaz Mostert.

Kiwis in top 10?

Dale Budge: Four.
Eric Thompson: Three.
Bob McMurray: Four.
D'Arcy Waldegrave: Three.

Biggest improver?

Dale Budge: James Courtney.
Eric Thompson: Michael Caruso.
Bob McMurray: Simona de Silvestro.
D'Arcy Waldegrave: Simona de Silvestro.

Under pressure?

Dale Budge: Rick Kelly.
Eric Thompson: James Courtney.
Bob McMurray: Scott McLaughlin.
D'Arcy Waldegrave: Mark Winterbottom.

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