V8 driver Tander takes aim at Ingall

Holden Racing Team (HRT) veteran Garth Tander has taken aim at Russell Ingall’s controversial Ford switch ahead of this weekend’s Gold Coast 600.

Silly season has arrived for V8 Supercars drivers, with Nissan’s James Moffat linked to Volvo for next season and Mercedes’ Will Davison expected to make a Holden return.

But it’s Ingall who raised eyebrows with his switch from HRT to dominant Ford outfit Prodrive Racing ahead of the year’s final enduro on the tourist strip.

There was speculation HRT were not impressed that Ingall had jumped ship before recovering driver James Courtney had received a medical clearance.

Ingall had filled in for the injured Courtney at the Sandown 500 and Bathurst 1000 and again appeared to be on standby on the Gold Coast.

Instead Ingall made the bold call to replace injured Ford star Chaz Mostert at Prodrive Racing on the glitter strip.

“I don’t think he is the type of guy you would like to go to war with – he looks like he swaps sides pretty quickly,” No.1 HRT driver Tander told AAP.

“I think we all know what Russell is like.

“It is what it is. Now that James is back, it doesn’t really matter.”

Courtney has been cleared to make his long awaited return this weekend after breaking five ribs and puncturing his lung in a freak pitlane accident in August’s Sydney round.

“He’s been out for a little while and been itching to get back,” Tander said of Courtney.

“It’s good to see him back. It’s good for the team.”

The driver merry go round is in full swing after Nissan confirmed on Thursday they would release Moffat at season’s end, sparking speculation he will replace David Wall at Volvo next year.

Nissan cited lack of sponsorship for not being able to offer Moffat a drive next year.

Moffat achieved the Nissan team’s best results in his three-year tenure – their sole race win at Winton 2013 and last year’s Bathurst 1000 second placing with Taz Douglas.

And former Bathurst champ Davison is expected to cut ties with Mercedes and next year link with Holden’s Tekno Autosports, backed by the same garage as dominant outfit Red Bull.

Tekno’s Shane van Gisbergen has already signed to drive a third Red Bull car in 2016.

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