Phillip Island’s unpredictable weather is the big unknown heading into this weekend’s second-last meet of the V8 Supercars season.
Overcast skies, low temperatures and likely rain are forecast although, as any local knows, it can change in an instant.
Craig Lowndes, who has won as many races on the island as anyone else in V8 Supercars history, has seen the venue throw up all kinds of conditions – and sometimes, in the same meet.
The veteran Red Bull driver was quickest in Friday’s practice and said – after seeing the safety car come out for treacherous conditions in the past – light showers would be a breeze.
“We’ve been here a number of years and with some drizzling rain – that’s been quite good,” he said.
“We’ve been here when it’s almost monsoon … aquaplaning down the main street.
“You’ve got to be very committed in the drive … and it’s the same in the wet if you want to get a fast lap time around here.”
His Red Bull teammate and runaway championship leader Jamie Whincup was keen to put the skids on the suggestion that wet or windy conditions could jeopardise his title.
“Rain’s the same for everyone,” he said.
“We’ll do our homework on a wet weather set-up and wait for the rain to roll in in the morning.”
Whincup will claim a provisional fourth-straight V8 Supercars title on Saturday if he can stretch his 402-point lead out to 450.
He’ll have to wait until Sunday if not, when the barrier for championship success drops to 300 points after the 200-kilometre race.
Whincup said his final margin of success didn’t worry him.
“I’m not a greedy person. If I’m one point ahead in the last race of the year, then I’ll be happy with that.”
Ford’s Chaz Mostert declared himself a wet weather fan, enjoying his previous rain-soaked race at Eastern Creek.
“We haven’t had too many wet races this year,” Mostert said.
“It’s a funny place, Phillip Island. You think it’s going to rain – it doesn’t rain.
“Saturday, it says it’s going to rain but it might not.
“At least we know what to do for a wet weather set-up.”
