Doubt over Skaife entry in Fujitsu Series

Triple Eight Race Engineering boss Roland Dane says that an entry for Mark Skaife in the Fujitsu V8 Series this year is unlikely.

Dane has been investigating the possibility of entering a Holden Commodore VE in the development series for Skaife to gather extra race miles ahead of the V8 Supercars endurance races at Phillip Island and Bathurst.

Skaife will co-drive with Craig Lowndes in the TeamVodafone Commodore – the winning combination in both races last year.

While Skaife will get some V8 laps this Friday at Winton as part of the V8 co-driver sessions, Dane says that he’d like to enter him in the Fujitsu V8 Series, but the chances of it happening are low.

“I don’t see him doing anything in the Fujitsu Series. It would be nice to do it, but that’s the reality,” Dane told Speedcafe.com.

“Everyone is too busy. It’s a big ask, so I’m not expecting it.

“I wouldn’t rule it out 100 percent, but I don’t see it happening. It would have to be Townsville or Queensland Raceway, but again, I don’t think it will happen.”

Skaife’s team-mate Lowndes says that getting extra laps in the Fujitsu Series would only help their chances of securing back-to-back wins in the two-driver races.

“I like to see him do that, just to keep that sharpness there,” Lowndes told Speedcafe.com.

“I’m sure Skaife would like to do that too, but who knows what plans Roland has. We’re not really sure.

“The way the competition is, it is getting harder to step back into the series now for those two race.

“The championship has a lot more depth, but while he still feels comfortable and still feels competitive, he’ll continue to do it.”

While Lowndes’ endurance driver may not get Fujitsu V8 races, his team-mates co-driver is. Jamie Whincup will team up with Andrew Thompson who currently leads the Fujitsu V8 Series in his Monster Energy Commodore.

After a three week lay-off, the V8 Supercars Championship returns this weekend at Winton Motor Raceway.