Motorsport: 'Soft' option may give Tander the edge

Garth Tander reckons allowing soft compound tyres for the whole Ipswich event could help him catch Jamie Whincup. Photo / Getty Images

BRISBANE - The only driver to have denied Jamie Whincup victory in 2010 hopes to land a more telling psychological blow on the runaway V8 Supercars series leader in Ipswich this weekend.

Garth Tander believes the 2010 debut of sprint tyres at Queensland Raceway could not have come at a better time as teams ponder ways to reel in Whincup's self-described Holden "rocket ship".

This year "softs" are being used for the whole round - last year it was a limited option tyre.

Softs grip more than the standard tyre, resulting in more speed.

It looms as the most open race of 2010 - and a potential body blow for Whincup's hopes of three straight championships, according to Tander.

"From a motivation point of view and a statement point of view this is a real chance for us," Tander said.

"If we can beat him at his home track, it shows that he can be beaten (for the 2010 championship).

"We have beaten him before this year - I think we can do the job this weekend."

Whincup is in pole position to become the first V8 Supercar driver to win consecutive championships in two different makes of car.

He has won six of 2010's eight races - Tander won the other two in Adelaide - and tops the standings more than 200 points ahead of nearest rival, Ford's James Courtney.

But he hasn't used the softs on his Commodore since switching to Holden this season.

And 2007 V8 champ Tander senses a chink in the Whincup armour.

Especially on a track where Tander has tasted huge success, winning five races and grabbing three overall round victories.

"Given our start to the year we have to take every opportunity that comes up - and this is an opportunity," said the sixth-placed Tander.

"We expect him (Whincup) to be strong, after all it is his test track.

"But statistically this is one of the best circuits for me, I am not sure why.

"Certainly Jamie is having a good run at the minute but we are not that far away from where he is at from a car speed point of view and certainly we are closer than anyone else.

"Last year our car was very good, probably a little better than Jamie's, on the soft tyre - whether that translates this year we will have to wait and see."

Holden veteran Russell Ingall predicted Ipswich to be a "pivotal" round thanks to the softs.

"The racing's been lacklustre up until now," the 2005 V8 champ said.

"Using the Dunlop soft tyre this weekend should shake things up a fair bit.

"It will be pivotal.

"The standard tyre is just too good, it maintains its performance for the whole race and doesn't drop off.

"(Last round at) Hamilton was the classic example, drivers producing their fastest laps 15-20 laps into a run that's just ridiculous."

Practice starts today.

- AAP