MOUNT Gambier Sprintcar driver Steven Lines will fight against the best for the World Series Sprintcar title over the final three rounds held in Western Australia.
Lines sits second in the series’ standings, trailing by eight points to Kerry Madsen.
Defending champion James McFadden is not far behind in third and as a result speedway fans are in for a treat over the next three rounds.
The title remains up for grabs, with all of the top three drivers well in contention, as well fourth-placed Jamie Veal.
This Saturday will see all eyes on Albany’s Attwell Park Speedway for round eight of the series, before the final two rounds are contested at the Perth Motorplex the following weekend.
For Lines, being in a position to potentially replicate his 2014 World Series title is something he and his team are proud of.
“There has been seven rounds, so to be right up there after that, I am pretty happy,” he said.
“Now we just need to try and keep our heads together and finish it off pretty strong.”
Before finding himself at the pointy end of the standings late in the series, Lines had not planned on going to Western Australia for the final rounds.
“We actually were not going to go to Perth, but we put ourselves in a position where it is silly not to go,” he said.
“We will head over there and try our best and see what we can do.”
Lines is pleased with how he has raced this season and said consistency has been the key, which has made it easier to remain in contention through seven rounds of adrenaline-filled racing.
But he is under no illusions, as anything can happen in the remaining three rounds, before the champion is crowned.
Having recorded some strong results in Western Australia in the past, Lines hopes for another positive outcome.
“When I won the World Series a few years back we were pretty solid over there,” he said.
“I have won a few races over there.
“Hopefully we can carry that with us and be pretty consistent to keep us up near the front somewhere.”
However, it will not be smooth sailing and Lines is up against some of the best in the business, with Madsen showing solid form in 2018-19, while McFadden is hot on their heels, just 118 points behind Lines.
And in the world of sprintcars, 118 points can be made up or lost with a simple line choice or mistake.
Lines said he expects the talented field to contest all three rounds and as a result, it will be a battle to the end.
“It will be a pretty good battle,” he said.
“I like racing with those guys, they are obviously very consistent and race all year around.
“Horell Motorsport who we drive for is a pretty good team and it is nice to put it up the front for them.
“We will just try and hang in there and race the hell out of these guys.
“Hopefully we can be right there at the end.”
Lines also anticipates the Western Australian drivers to fare well, as they are usually competitive on their home tracks.
“There are a lot of local cars at Perth which are actually pretty strong,” he said.
“It makes it even harder when you are going for a points run and those guys throw a bit of a mix into it.”
Regardless of the outcome, Lines is sure to give it a red-hot crack and will race hard in his search for a second World Series Sprintcars title.
