The Supercars drivers' merry-go-round is starting to pick up pace - and results at this weekend's debut Tailem Bend round in South Australia may determine where Ford great Mark Winterbottom gets off.
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Winterbottom - the 2015 series champion - is one of Supercars' biggest drawcards but suddenly faces an uncertain future at Ford heavyweights Tickford Racing.
Plenty of names are being thrown around for prospective drives next year with the silly season well under way with six rounds remaining.
Nissan's Simona de Silvestro continues to be linked with Holden's Red Bull Racing as retirement-bound great Craig Lowndes' replacement in 2019.
And Nissan's Michael Caruso and Preston Hire Racing's Lee Holdsworth are also looking for new deals.
But off contract Winterbottom - the 2013 Bathurst 1000 champion - is still sweating on his future from a tight-lipped Tickford Racing after slumping to a distant 13th on the drivers' standings this season.
Ford's Scott McLaughlin leads the standings with 2579 points, 89 ahead of nearest rival RBR's Shane van Gisbergen - and a whopping 1,215 clear of former pace setter Winterbottom.
Winterbottom does not have to be told he needs results at the $110 million Tailem Bend track, south-east of Adelaide - the final event before the season's critical three enduro rounds including the legendary Bathurst 1000.
Winterbottom will hope some inside information helps his cause at the 4.95km, 18-turn track.
He scoped out the track last week in a V8 touring car to get some extra laps in before Friday's official practice.
"I did 10 laps last week. It was good to get a taste of the track, and it's going to be a really tough track to get right," he said.
"It's one of those undulating, fast, flowing tracks; one of the best that we've got in the country, so I'm really excited to see what it's like in my own car.
"Hopefully we can have a good run before enduros and try to turn our season around."
At least Winterbottom knows a Ford turnaround can happen.
His teammate Chaz Mostert has launched a mini-comeback to move to seventh on the standings after four straight top six finishes including a fifth at the last round - the Sydney SuperNight 300.
Nearly half of the field's drivers have had some experience on the new track after featuring in testing in April's Shannons Nationals race meeting.
A 102km race will be held on Saturday before Sunday's 200km finale.
The Bend is the first permanent Supercars circuit opened in Australia since Ipswich's Queensland Raceway in 1999.
Australian Associated Press
