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End of road gets nearer for Skaife
Friday, 24 October 2008
Holden great Mark Skaife is expected to confirm within days
he will retire from full-time V8 Supercar racing at the end of the year.
Skaife, 41, has been contemplating his future since crashing
out of the Bathurst 1000 a fortnight ago. But while the Holden Racing
Team and Skaife would not confirm it yesterday, it is believed he will
draw the curtain on his illustrious career soon - perhaps as early as
next week.
He is among the sport's greatest champions, winning more V8 Supercar
rounds than any other driver, five championships and five Bathurst 1000
races.
He was at the peak of his powers in a remarkable 2002 season, in
which he clinched his third successive championship for the Holden
Racing Team, won the opening five rounds of the year and Bathurst.
But despite his status and the fact he has conquered the sport's
major pinnacles, Skaife's future has been the subject of constant
speculation this year amid claims he had lost speed and competitiveness.
Skaife sits 12th in the championship - well inside the top half of
the points standings - and has also been consistent in qualifying all
year.
An HRT spokesman said yesterday that Skaife had not made a final
call on his future but admitted the veteran had been contemplating
retirement.
"The decision is Mark's to make," the spokesman said. "Everyone's
making conclusions on his behalf. At this stage, he's not decided. He
is considering what to do, no doubt about it. A decision is expected
within the next two weeks."
But rival drivers and teams were talking about Skaife's retirement
as a fait accompli yesterday ahead of this weekend's round of the V8
series at the Gold Coast, starting today.
Skaife's decision is likely to have been brought into sharp focus by
his crash at Bathurst, when he locked the brakes and hit the wall.
Before Bathurst, he was doing his best to deflect all questions
about his future until the end of the season. "The day I think I'm not
going forward and I don't enjoy it, then I wouldn't be doing it,"
Skaife said earlier this month.
Friday, 24 October 2008
Holden great Mark Skaife is expected to confirm within days
he will retire from full-time V8 Supercar racing at the end of the year.
Skaife, 41, has been contemplating his future since crashing
out of the Bathurst 1000 a fortnight ago. But while the Holden Racing
Team and Skaife would not confirm it yesterday, it is believed he will
draw the curtain on his illustrious career soon - perhaps as early as
next week.
He is among the sport's greatest champions, winning more V8 Supercar
rounds than any other driver, five championships and five Bathurst 1000
races.
He was at the peak of his powers in a remarkable 2002 season, in
which he clinched his third successive championship for the Holden
Racing Team, won the opening five rounds of the year and Bathurst.
But despite his status and the fact he has conquered the sport's
major pinnacles, Skaife's future has been the subject of constant
speculation this year amid claims he had lost speed and competitiveness.
Skaife sits 12th in the championship - well inside the top half of
the points standings - and has also been consistent in qualifying all
year.
An HRT spokesman said yesterday that Skaife had not made a final
call on his future but admitted the veteran had been contemplating
retirement.
"The decision is Mark's to make," the spokesman said. "Everyone's
making conclusions on his behalf. At this stage, he's not decided. He
is considering what to do, no doubt about it. A decision is expected
within the next two weeks."
But rival drivers and teams were talking about Skaife's retirement
as a fait accompli yesterday ahead of this weekend's round of the V8
series at the Gold Coast, starting today.
Skaife's decision is likely to have been brought into sharp focus by
his crash at Bathurst, when he locked the brakes and hit the wall.
Before Bathurst, he was doing his best to deflect all questions
about his future until the end of the season. "The day I think I'm not
going forward and I don't enjoy it, then I wouldn't be doing it,"
Skaife said earlier this month.
