Tander backs team-mate in Phillip Island decider.

by Matthew Agius

After enduring a difficult end to his 2006 V8 Supercar Championship campaign, Toll HSV Dealer Team driver Garth Tander spoke to Crash.net Radio in Bahrain with his thoughts on his second season at the team, and his co-driver's championship position.

Tander was challenging for the championship title midway through the season, but following a switch to the Holden Racing Team for the enduros, which resulted in a double retirement at Sandown and Bathurst, Tander was boxed well out of the title fight.

"It was a difficult pill to swallow after Bathurst, not even starting a race effectively and getting no points there - really my championship was over at 10.01 on Sunday morning at Bathurst," he said.

"So it was great to go to Tassie and get a round win there again after having a great year there last year.

"We had good speed at Indy - I think we've had good speed all year."

Now, Tander must work to assist his younger team-mate Rick Kelly, as the double Bathurst winner fights Craig Lowndes for the 2006 V8 Supercar crown, and fights critics for his conservative approach that, so far, has not secured him a round win.

"Rick and I have been very good friends since he was about three years old it seems," said Tander.

"We learned how to work together last year in what was really my first year with the team and this year we've worked really well together as far as getting the most out of the cars together, and getting the most out of each other.

"We have a lot of fun at the circuit as well, and we know when its time to be serious but we try to keep it a bit light hearted and have a bit of fun."

When asked on his team-mate's championship chances going into the Caterpillar Grand Finale at Phillip Island, given the challenge from experienced former champion Craig Lowndes, Tander assured his full confidence in Kelly's ability.

"I think there's no doubt that he's going to be able to do it," he said.

"He's had probably one of the fastest cars the last three or four races, he's scoring more points than Lowndes in most of the races now and he's been solid all year.

"A lot of people have given him a lot of criticism this year for just accumulating points, but that's what you have to do in the way this points structure is set up in this championship.

"If he goes on to win this championship at the end of the year then he's done the job required to win the championship this year and you know we should have all been following his lead.

"We've had a very strong year this year and had very good speed."

With the introduction of the new VE Commodore in 2007, Tander believes that Holden teams will need to do substantial development to compete with Ford teams, which will be graced with a BA to BF Falcon upgrade. Despite the Tom Walkinshaw Performance Group doing extensive testing of the 2007 model, Tander believes it will be a challenge for drivers.

"It's obviously going to be a very difficult year for everyone in Holden next year because of the VE, a new car, so its going to be critical to develop that early and get a handle on that early," he noted.

"I think that the Ford teams will be looking to take an advantage early in the season to exploit the opportunity that they have with the cars that they know, whilst we're developing a new car so it's going to be an interesting year next year."