Mark Winterbottom believes that a mechanical problem is likely to have hindered his charge during a lacklustre Wilson Security Sandown 500 on Sunday.

The Ford Performance Racing star dropped to third in the championship standings after finishing the 161 lap race down in 10th place.

Winterbottom’s was the third of the FPR Falcons to reach the chequered flag, with team-mates Chaz Mostert/Paul Morris seventh and David Reynolds/Dean Canto ninth.

The #5 entry lost eight places when Steve Owen spun on the exit of Turn 3 while running seventh during the closing stages of his stint.

Although the error was costly, Winterbottom’s inability to make progress after taking over the car at the halfway mark has the reigning Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000 winner suspicious of a mechanical issue.

“It is a long day when the car isn’t doing what you want it to,” he reflected.

“Usually in the short races you can make changes in between but that isn’t possible in the enduros.

“Steve did his best with what we had but I actually think we might find something not quite right when we look over it. At least I hope we do.

“I’m not making excuses, there just needs to be a reason as the front end was bouncing all over the place.

“That has never happened before so we’ll have a thorough look. Either way it doesn’t change the outcome.”

Winterbottom and FPR had earlier been encouraged by a strong Saturday that saw a fourth in the morning’s qualifying session converted into an eventual third on the grid following the qualifying races.

Qualifying had been a well publicised Achilles heel for Winterbottom over the previous three events, where he qualified in the top 10 just twice in nine races.

“I’d never pumped the first so hard to be fourth to be honest,” Winterbottom had joked on Saturday.

“I almost did a burnout on the in-lap I was that excited.”

Elsewhere at FPR, Reynolds and Canto were left to rue a drive-through penalty for the #55 Bottle-O Falcon’s rear wheels spinning during its third pitstop.

Reynolds had been the only primary driver to start the race in a move that saw the car running third as the third round of pitstops appraoched

“I am so disappointed with myself,” said Reynolds.

“It was not my usual thing to make errors, I pride myself on it.

“I don’t recall ever having done it before but it came at the worst time possible.

“As the day went on our pace got better and better and that’s what you want in the long races.

“Dean did an awesome job but I am devastated to let everyone down.”