Red Bull Racing boss Roland Dane not convinced of parity between Holden and Ford

Red Bull Holden Racing Team boss Roland Dane still isn’t convinced the Supercars playing field is fair between Holden and Ford.

• McLaughlin poised to overtake Brock on legends list
• Trance-like state at 200km/h puts Ford flyer in front

Red Bull Holden Racing Team boss Roland Dane has claimed the latest parity changes made by Supercars will not guarantee the fight between Holden and Ford is fair.

Speaking after the sport allowed Holden to make an aerodynamic change in another concession that the Mustang was unfairly fast, Dane said changes to both the Commodores rear wing and front splitter would not ensure a level playing field.

The Mustang has only been beaten twice this year in a season of domination for Ford.

“I am not sure (if there is parity),’’ Dane said.

“And I think that anyone that says they are sure are being less than truthful. We will see over the next few races. We have some quite different circuits between here and Townsville so we have to be honest about it and say we need some more data.’’

Red Bull Holden Racing Team boss Roland Dane. Picture: Tim Hunter

The Mustang has been at the centre of a parity controversy with the sport early this year ordering the new Ford to make a series of go-slow changes after being ruled unfairly fast.

Further changes were ordered last week — this time to make the Holden faster — after the Mustang continued its blitz with a double win in Winton.

Ryan Walkinshaw, the owner of Walkinshaw Andretti United Racing, said Holden teams had not given up the fight.

“I don’t think it is at panic stations,’’ Walkinshaw said. “You have to work through these things systematically. There is a lot of work that needs to be done and we will be working towards the endurance campaign. We are never at panic stations because you have serious problems if you get to that stage.’’

Dane said he had challenged his powerful team to raise the bar and mount a fight.

“Anyone who thinks that you are going to win year-in and year-out is crazy,’’ Dane said.

Fabian Coulthard turned up the heat in the Ford Mustang at Darwin. Picture: Getty Images

“It just isn’t going to happen. There are always periods where you are not winning as much as you would like to and one win this year isn’t what we want.

“But regardless of any issues around parity, which happen every so often, you have to be prepared to look at yourself hard and not just look at things such as parity because there are other things that come into account.

“Anytime we are not the fastest Holdens, for instance, then I ask myself, why, because we are not doing our job. The real thing is staying in the hunt.’’

Dane said he expected his team to remain near the top of the V8 pile.

“We have to be there or thereabout,’’ he said. “We won’t win all the time but ever since 2005 we have been first or second in the championship.

“We have to stay at those high standards this year. If we can’t win, and that will happen every so often, than we have to stay in the hunt.’’

McLaughlin sizzles in Darwin heat

Scott McLaughlin continued his stunning V8 blitz by storming home to claim the fastest practice time at the Darwin Triple Crown.

Fresh from a clean sweep at Winton clean that further extended his championship lead, the DJR Team Penske hot-shot clocked a 1.06.08 to edge out his teammate Fabian Coulthard in another one-two session for Ford.

McLaughlin defied both the heat and the pressure of finishing in the top 10 to ensure a spot in Q2.

“There is so much more pressure with this format,’’ McLaughlin said. “It is tough and you have be very focused for your lap. It is great to have both myself and Fabs up there on position one and two for the team.’’

McLaughlin said the Darwin heat meant he had only one shot at recording his winning lap time.

Scott McLaughlin set the pace in practice at the Darwin Triple Crown. Picture: Getty Images

“You have to be really nice on your tyres going out,’’ he said. “You really don’t have to touch them to get them up to temperature. It is full on but the guys gave me a great car and we got it right.’’

Holden driver Jamie Whincup finished third fastest with a time of 106.26 to lead the fight against Ford.

“We are on track,’’ Whincup said. “The car is reasonable. We are not the quickest but we are the best of the Holdens and we will go out and try and catch them tomorrow.

“We have done a great job with the balance of the car and all you can do today is try and balance the car. We are lacking grip, though, overall.

“We need a little bit more grip. How we do that? I do not know. You would usually look at the other car in your team but they are not that fast right now so we have a bit of work to do.’’