Changing Seats: FTR candidates examined
22/9/2000 15:01 (V8 Wire - Jason Whittaker) - As if this mid-year Silly Season wasn’t silly enough, Neil Crompton threw a spanner in the works last week when he announced he will split with the Ford-Tickford Racing operation before season 2001.
So with the vacancy sign displayed, who’s knocking on Glenn Seton’s door for the seat? We look at the likely candidates, and their chances of filling Crompton’s shoes in 2001.
CRAIG LOWNDES
Why wouldn’t you want Craig Lowndes to drive your car!? He’s quick, he’s consistent, he’s reliable, he’s experienced, he’s popular, he’s marketable, and he’s available! He remains the most sought-after driver in the country, and FTR are sure to do everything in their power to lure him away from Holden for next season.
For the ailing Ford camp, Lowndes could prove to be the Messiah. Not necessarily from a results perspective – not even a three-times champ could turn around the fortunes of the Blue Oval single-handedly – but to restore “the image”, Lowndes could be the winning formula.
Ford is lacking a “star”. Sure, they have a stable full of talent. But they lack a big, popular, marketable, young face. And Craig Lowndes certainly fits all of those criteria.
The ball is squarely in Lowndes’ court. If he wants to drive a Ford, every possible concession will be made – by Seton, FTR and Ford – to get him behind the wheel of a FTR Falcon. If he switches camps, chances are Seton’s new partner in crime will be one C. Lowndes come 2001.
DEAN CANTO
No disrespect to Dean Canto intended, the recently-crowned V8 Lites champion knows he is a clear second favourite in this competition. If Lowndes wants the seat, he’ll most likely get it. If he doesn’t, Canto is in the best position of any to grab the prized mount.
This kid – let’s remember he’s only 19 year’s old – is going places, fast. And Seton would be crazy to let him go. In saying that, he’s very young, relatively inexperienced, and doubtful whether he could handle the rigours of a full V8 Supercar season at such an early age.
In three or four years time, Canto will be matching it with the best. But for a team looking for an instant revival, FTR may not be able to wait that long.
WAYNE WAKEFIELD
It would certainly be a popular choice north of the border. Indeed, it’d be a popular choice everywhere. Wakefield has starpower, a level of popularity unmatched by any non-V8 Supercar regular, and arguably the most talented of anyone waiting in the V8 Supercar wings.
There are, however, barriers he’d have to hurdle. Including he’s inexperience at the very highest level (he is more equipped than most, however), and his age. At the ripe old age of 30, to say he’s past his prime would be absurd, but he doesn’t quite fit into that “X Generation” demographic that Ford clearly have their sights set on.
He’s been on the cusp of breaking into the full-time V8 world for a few years, particularly now after his impressive results in the Lites feeder category this year, and deserves his chance to prove his worth in a Level 1 outfit. That outfit could very well end up being Ford-Tickford Racing.
NEAL BATES
A proven performer in the road-going machines over a long distance (he will race for FTR in the endurance events this year), but lacks any experience in the rough-and-tumble of the shorter races.
Besides which, he’s shown no indication whatsoever he would consider leaving the dirt roads behind.
GREG MUPRHY
He’s been linked with the Ford camp in the past, and he’s rumoured to be unsettled at the K-Mart garage, so a cross-town switch to FTR is certainly not out of the question.
The idea of signing raw, unproven talent, and then spending anything from one to five years nurturing that talent, won’t be appealing to a manufacturer as short on results as they are on patience. Which must put drivers like Greg Murphy high on the FTR shopping list.
If Lowndes sticks with General Motors, Murphy could be the surprise defect.
LUKE YOULDEN
Larry Perkins is one who was impressed with the talent of this racer – so much so he signed him for this year’s endurance races – which says a great deal about the potential of Youlden in the tin-top racing world.
The recently-crowned Formula Ford champion is super-keen to get behind the wheel of a V8 Supercar full-time next season, but throwing him into the deep-end so early in his career is not something Seton would be keen to do.
In short, a V8 Supercar resume containing just the two entires (this year’s Queensland 500 and Bathurst) won’t be enough for Youlden to secure the drive.
CHRISTIAN MURCHISON
Ditto for Christian Murchison. Obvious talent, enormous potential, plenty of youthful exuberance, but simply not enough experience. Plus, Murchison sees his future in open-wheeler racing overseas, not in Australian V8 Supercar racing.
ALAIN MENU, RICKARD RYDELL and ANTHONY REID
With Ford yanking their support from the British Touring Car Championship for next season, Alain Menu, Rickard Rydell and Anthony Reid have found themselves on a sinking ship and, possibly, without a BTCC drive next season. And you can rest assured, drivers of the calibre of these three, on the open market, won’t escape the attention of FTR.
While all hope they can remain in the British series (Menu is confident terms can be reached with his Prodrive outfit for next season), it would seem all three have uncertain futures come 2001.
Germany’s DTM series beckons should any of the threesome depart the British Isles, but Australia could also be lucky enough to snare these internationals.
All, particularly Menu, have shown interest in an extended Australian holiday, and would meet FTR's brief completely.
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