A resurgent Shane van Gisbergen will do whatever it takes to help Red Bull Holden teammate Jamie Whincup pull off the greatest Supercars heist of all time.
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Despite winning three of the past six races, New Zealander van Gisbergen has left his championship run too late.
It is not impossible for Whincup to snatch a record-extending eighth drivers' title.
Although everything would have to go wrong for Ford ace Scott McLaughlin, who has a 215-point gap over Whincup, not to claim a third-straight title.
But Whincup isn't backing down before his weekend's three-race sprint round at Tailem Bend in South Australia, saying he is not willing to roll over and give the championship to McLaughlin.
Van Gisbergen concedes it is going to be extremely difficult for Whincup to topple McLaughlin, and send the Holden brand off on a high, but if anyone can do it his teammate can.
"(I) keep making mistakes and throwing away points so we're battling for third (in the championship) which isn't that good," van Gisbergen said.
"I'm just here to win races and get good results and do a good job for my team.
"The team's championship is pretty hotly contested.
"We'll definitely do what we can for Jamie. He's got to win the drivers' championship, which is much harder now, but anything I can to help now I will do."
It sets up another thrilling weekend of racing after McLaughlin and Whincup were involved in a dramatic incident at Tailem Bend last Saturday.
Whincup crashed into McLaughlin on the opening lap of the first race of the round, sending the Shell V-Power flyer into the sand.
The Holden legend was immediately given a 15-second penalty, while McLaughlin copped the same punishment late in the race after trying to make up for lost ground.
If McLaughlin's points gap widens to at least 300 points he will head to the Bathurst 1000 season finale with an unassailable championship lead.
Australian Associated Press
