Roland Dane says that he has the best driving line-up in the V8 Supercars Championship Series.
The Triple Eight Race Engineering boss re-signed his star pair Jamie Whincup and Craig Lowndes to three-year deals that will see them stay with the Vodafone-backed Holden outfit until the end of 2012.
The driver’s contracts align with Vodafone’s title sponsorship and Triple Eight’s deal with Holden.
Dane told Speedcafe.com.au that Whincup and Lowndes are the best in the V8 business.
“I think we do have the best drivers, and if I didn’t think we did, I would have tried to do something about it,” he said.
“Last year, we were in a position when Jamie and Craig’s contracts were up, and we took it.
“We do have the best two guys. Jamie’s record in the past three years is really second to none. Craig record goes back many years. He still wins races. He is still excellent value for us in the car and outside the car. He’s still the biggest name in the sport and he’s very motivated.
“Between the two of them, they are very different characters that work very hard on and off the track for the team. It’s difficult to envisage who else I’d put in the car, to be honest.”
“There’s no one here that I’d want in my cars. I’d rather those two guys.”
When quizzed on who he would put in his cars if he had no choice, Dane said that Toll Holden Racing Team leader Garth Tander stands out as an obvious candidate.
“When it comes to Jamie’s level of talent and commitment, the only guy who has got close to him in the last few years is Garth Tander, who I’ve got a lot of respect for,” he said.
“But I’m very, very happy with Jamie and the results he’s produced.”
