Does Skaife have another championship in him?

Chatters · 21 Dec 2006, 07:44 (Ref:1796483)

Skaife is now 39. I'm not totally going to write him off yet. His form in 2006 has shown he has the car speed but not the reliability. If he gets a car that is reliable, I think he could easily win another championship. As for Bathurst goes, we've seen a fair amount of 40+ winners in the past, so I can't see Skaifey being an exception. He could win another 1 or 2 IMO.

What do you guys think? Has Skaifey past his prime or does is he still competitive enough to keep going?

racer69 · 21 Dec 2006, 07:54 (Ref:1796488)

Everyone had written off Bernd Schneider, and look what he did in the DTM this year.......

TCR-028 · 21 Dec 2006, 08:10 (Ref:1796498)

39 is far from old... The question should be can he a) focus exclusively on driving and b) have some luck ??

He's no slouch, and i reckon he has plenty left in him...

greenracer · 21 Dec 2006, 09:05 (Ref:1796541)

used all his luck in his last championship win similar to m schumacher

matt_015 · 21 Dec 2006, 09:19 (Ref:1796553)

I recken he does. I have a felling he may win the Clipsal 500 then drift off for a few rounds then come back strong like Whincup.

Senna05 · 21 Dec 2006, 09:32 (Ref:1796559)

Brock last won the championship in 1980. However, if luck rolled his way, he could have had 5 or 6 more in the ensuing years.....

He was very close in 1995, at 50. Reliability is what let him down this year, and given a little more, the HRT cars are rockets. He may have one, maybe two left in him.

6th Gear · 21 Dec 2006, 09:34 (Ref:1796561)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chatters

Skaife is now 39. I'm not totally going to write him off yet. His form in 2006 has shown he has the car speed but not the reliability. If he gets a car that is reliable, I think he could easily win another championship. As for Bathurst goes, we've seen a fair amount of 40+ winners in the past, so I can't see Skaifey being an exception. He could win another 1 or 2 IMO.

What do you guys think? Has Skaifey past his prime or does is he still competitive enough to keep going?

He has a few more Bathursts in him...Championships? with a good car with suprb engineering? Yes....current car status? Maybe

Pro Racer · 21 Dec 2006, 11:38 (Ref:1796686)

definatly he was very strong this year winning equally the most races and had heaps of car speed but what let down was reliability, if reliability is on his side in the comming years then definatly he can win 1 or more championships.

Razor · 21 Dec 2006, 11:50 (Ref:1796701)

I don't know. Sure, his car is a bullet dressed up like a car and he does have pace. But on the other hand, he has had a string of bad luck ever since 2003 (except last year when he won Bathurst but then it went downhill when he used his new chassis at Tassie) and he is making silly mistakes here and there.

Pro Racer · 21 Dec 2006, 11:54 (Ref:1796707)

and the team are as well, not putting a wheel on right etc.

SSbaby · 21 Dec 2006, 12:15 (Ref:1796755)

Interesting topic.

I think Garth Tander is the form driver of the series and the car is working well for him. He is my tip for the title next year assuming a relatively seamless transition to VE. That would also mean Skaifey gets another year older.

Anyway, on speed alone, Skaife has what it takes to win another championship but HRT's reliability record hasn't been great the past couple of years. HRT need to give him a car every bit as good as the HSVs of this year.

I wonder what would be if the #2 HRT car never failed at Sandown and Bathurst...

Pro Racer · 21 Dec 2006, 12:16 (Ref:1796758)

Tander Champion!!!

craig1 · 21 Dec 2006, 21:14 (Ref:1797125)

The suns setting on MS.

Still quick but I don't think he can pull it together for a whole season.

billybanana · 21 Dec 2006, 21:17 (Ref:1797128)

Certainly next years points may assist him where wins are rewarded more. But you have to think if all TW cars are relatively the same, I'd probably favour Tander and T.Kelly ahead of Skaife.

Based on the 2nd half of this season, if HRT can sort out their reliability problems, then the older Kelly is the man to beat for me.

Peddler · 21 Dec 2006, 23:18 (Ref:1797214)

I dont think MS has a hope in hell of winning another championship. It is one thing to be able to drive which MS can, but the mental aspect of for-ever getting boood by the masses and the HRT Luck that is now non-exsistant i believe will cause MS to loose his competativness {-- is that a word hehe

reminds me of when he got hit by JP on lap 1 of Bathurst... I LOVED IT!

Intrepid · 22 Dec 2006, 03:48 (Ref:1797321)

I think Skaifey may be able to pull another one off. Like most athletes hes been through some rough patches lately, some of his own doings, some nothing within his control. His raw pace and race craft is still there, if he has a reliable package and attacks the championship, they way in which is required some maybe eating their hats in here

Goodluck Skaifey

RedNine Racing · 22 Dec 2006, 23:20 (Ref:1798009)

NO

Chatters · 22 Dec 2006, 23:41 (Ref:1798020)

Now there's a justified answer for you...

pete55 · 22 Dec 2006, 23:59 (Ref:1798026)

I think there are plenty of drivers around now as good as or better than Skaife. It is going to be difficult for him to win another championship.

stradlin21 · 23 Dec 2006, 00:26 (Ref:1798038)

Quote:

Originally Posted by racer69

Everyone had written off Bernd Schneider, and look what he did in the DTM this year.......

good point!

deeks6 · 23 Dec 2006, 03:05 (Ref:1798078)

Despite not liking the man, Skaife is undoubtedly one of the very best we have seen in the country. Up unitl PI, I always regarded him as one of the cleanest and fairest too ... well, we'll give him the benefit of the doubt.

What is he good at?

1. Overtaking - one of the very best
2. Setup - one of the best, if not the best
3. Qualifying - one of the best, if not the best
4. Race Craft - excellent
5. Cold Tyres - not his strong point, prefers the car to be optimum
6. Strategy - was great, has been poor last 2 years
7. Temperament - was one of the best, been below par last 2 years

Since the "ownership" thing, he has suffered, as expected, but can he still cut it?

I think 4 or 5 poles and ditto race wins for 06 says he still can. He may not be at his absolute peak but he is certainly not far off it. As an all-rounder, he is probably still the best ... on sheer ability, I could only rate Lowndes better.

What has he got going for him in 07?

1. POINTS SYSTEM - rewards racers like Skaife
2. HOLDEN ENGINES - well developed now and appear to have a marked performance edge on most of the field.
3. MANAGEMENT - with Walkinshoddy on board, he can concentrate more on driving.
4. FORD ENGINES - will take developing of new format

What has he got going against him?

1. NEW CAR - although it seems to be the same with a bit of new tin over the top and, if anything will assist aero advantage.
2. TEAMWORK - HRT have been ordinary and need to lift
3. RELIABILITY - has surprisingly been an issue but with Walkinshoddy running the HSV team also (who were reliable) this should not be an issue.
4. OPPOSITION - the likes of Winterbottom, Courtney etc have shown that there is definitely a new young breed coming through so it won't get any easier.

Overall, my long winded reply says YES, he can win. I expect Skaife to be in the Top 3 for the Title at worst

TSR · 23 Dec 2006, 04:16 (Ref:1798095)

Skaifey could have one more Title within him, but I think with the one guns coming through like Frosty, JC and Will Davidson plus what the dark side have with GT,Toddler and J Richo.
I think that times will be tough for Skaifey for another Title reign, a Bathurst win well I think he certainaly has one or two more in him.

Senna05 · 24 Dec 2006, 00:40 (Ref:1798553)

Quote:

Originally Posted by deeks6

Despite not liking the man, Skaife is undoubtedly one of the very best we have seen in the country. Up unitl PI, I always regarded him as one of the cleanest and fairest too ... well, we'll give him the benefit of the doubt.

What is he good at?

1. Overtaking - one of the very best
2. Setup - one of the best, if not the best
3. Qualifying - one of the best, if not the best
4. Race Craft - excellent
5. Cold Tyres - not his strong point, prefers the car to be optimum
6. Strategy - was great, has been poor last 2 years
7. Temperament - was one of the best, been below par last 2 years

Since the "ownership" thing, he has suffered, as expected, but can he still cut it?

I think 4 or 5 poles and ditto race wins for 06 says he still can. He may not be at his absolute peak but he is certainly not far off it. As an all-rounder, he is probably still the best ... on sheer ability, I could only rate Lowndes better.

What has he got going for him in 07?

1. POINTS SYSTEM - rewards racers like Skaife
2. HOLDEN ENGINES - well developed now and appear to have a marked performance edge on most of the field.
3. MANAGEMENT - with Walkinshoddy on board, he can concentrate more on driving.
4. FORD ENGINES - will take developing of new format

What has he got going against him?

1. NEW CAR - although it seems to be the same with a bit of new tin over the top and, if anything will assist aero advantage.
2. TEAMWORK - HRT have been ordinary and need to lift
3. RELIABILITY - has surprisingly been an issue but with Walkinshoddy running the HSV team also (who were reliable) this should not be an issue.
4. OPPOSITION - the likes of Winterbottom, Courtney etc have shown that there is definitely a new young breed coming through so it won't get any easier.

Overall, my long winded reply says YES, he can win. I expect Skaife to be in the Top 3 for the Title at worst

Deeks, probably the best summation of the man I've seen to date. His only weakness is cold tyres and a full tank of gas, as demonstrated at Bathurst in 05, and when his temper gets the best of him.

I too would only rate Lowdnes aahead of him, and we have all seen how good these are in comparison to each other when both at the peak of their powers (with Lowdnes arguably learning alot about how to set up a V8 during this period). The following, despite uneven first season for Skaife and last season for Lowndes shows how sharp the two were. Arguably a modern day Senna/Prost combo, without the niggle and agitation.

1998 - Craig
01/02/1998 Sandown International Raceway SATCC Rd 1 Overall 15 Holden Racing Team Holden Commodore VS 1
08/02/1998 Symmons Plains SATCC Rd 2 Overall 15 Holden Racing Team Holden Commodore VS 1
19/04/1998 Phillip Island SATCC Rd 4 Overall 15 Holden Racing Team Holden Commodore VS 1
31/05/1998 Barbagallo Raceway SATCC Rd 7 Overall 15 Holden Racing Team Holden Commodore VS 1
21/06/1998 Calder Park Raceway SATCC Rd 8 Overall 15 Holden Racing Team Holden Commodore VS 1
02/08/1998 Oran Park Raceway SATCC Rd 10 Overall 15 Holden Racing Team Holden Commodore VT 1

1998 - Mark
Nil

1999 - Craig
07/03/1999 Albert Park Grand Prix Circuit Hot Wheels V8 Supercar Showdown Race 4 1 Holden Racing Team Holden Commodore VT 1
11/04/1999 Adelaide Parklands Circuit SCS Round 2 (Adelaide 500) Overall 1 Holden Racing Team Holden Commodore VT 1
02/05/1999 Barbagallo Raceway SCS Round 3 Overall 1 Holden Racing Team Holden Commodore VT 1

1999 - Mark
28/03/1999 Eastern Creek Raceway SCS Round 1 Overall 2 Holden Racing Team Holden Commodore VT 1
16/05/1999 Phillip Island SCS Round 4 Overall 2 Holden Racing Team Holden Commodore VT 1
27/06/1999 Sandown International Raceway SCS Round 6 Overall 2 Holden Racing Team Holden Commodore VT 1
25/07/1999 Calder Park Raceway SCS Round 8 Overall 2 Holden Racing Team Holden Commodore VT 1
08/08/1999 Symmons Plains SCS Round 9 Overall 2 Holden Racing Team Holden Commodore VT 1
05/09/1999 Oran Park Raceway SCS Round 11 Overall 2 Holden Racing Team Holden Commodore VT 1

2000 - Craig
19/03/2000 Barbagallo Raceway SCS Round 2 Overall 1 Holden Racing Team Holden Commodore VT 1
02/07/2000 Queensland Raceway SCS Round 7 Overall 1 Holden Racing Team Holden Commodore VT 1
10/09/2000 Queensland Raceway SCS Round 11 (Ozemail Queensland 500) 1 Holden Racing Team Holden Commodore VT 1 with M.Skaife

2000 - Mark
11/03/2000 Albert Park Grand Prix Circuit Hot Wheels V8 Supercar Showdown Race 3 2 Holden Racing Team Holden Commodore VT 1
30/04/2000 Eastern Creek Raceway SCS Round 4 Overall 2 Holden Racing Team Holden Commodore VT 1
21/05/2000 Hidden Valley Raceway SCS Round 5 Overall 2 Holden Racing Team Holden Commodore VT 1
30/07/2000 Oran Park Raceway SCS Round 9 Overall 2 Holden Racing Team Holden Commodore VT 1
10/09/2000 Queensland Raceway SCS Round 11 (Ozemail Queensland 500) 1 Holden Racing Team Holden Commodore VT 1 with C.Lowndes

aussie_f3 · 24 Dec 2006, 01:37 (Ref:1798564)

I dont like the guy one little bit but the bugger CAN drive and 39 is a long way from over the hill.

Do I want him to win another championship?.......NO!!...but can he win another?......most definately

Razor · 24 Dec 2006, 03:39 (Ref:1798591)

With Skaife, I think the biggest downfall for him is not his driving but his personalty. For example: When I went down to Bathurst in 2004, I was hanging around the HRT garage waiting to be opened for the public to have a look around and I saw Skaife and Todd Kelly walk out. A month earlier I met Todd and we chatted over the internet so we were mates and he walked over said hello and patted me on the shoulder and went: "Hey Mark!" and he just glared at me and Todd and started to walk to the team truck.

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