UTE: Summer Shootout Eastern Creek preview

Ford Flyers Face Each Other and Holden Rivals in V8 Utes Showdown

Ford flyers Grant Denyer and Marcus Zukanovic are shaping up for a pitched battle with each other as well as their Holden rivals in the final of the Kanga Loaders V8 Ute Summer Shootout for the Dunlop Trophy at Eastern Creek Raceway, near Sydney, next weekend.

The drivers, in identical Ford Falcon XR8 Pursuit utes, are equal on points after round one of the Kanga series at Symmons Plains, Tasmania, three weekends ago.

"I'll be watching out for Marcus first and foremost but, believe me, this final round could go to anyone," Denyer said.

"Marcus is in hot form at the moment. He got pole and a lap record in Tassie, but I just held him out for the win in heat three.

"We couldn't be more equal, although I was able to test the Falcon last week and reckon I've picked up a couple of ideas for putting us up the front of the field."

A total of 26 utes -- 12 Holdens and 14 Fords -- will contest three races over the BigPond Grand Finale V8 Supercar weekend.

With all utes running to a "control" formula that equalises performance, they promise spectacular entertainment.

While Zukanovic and Denyer rate each other their immediate threats, there are plenty of other forceful drivers fired up to finish the season in winning style.

Holden SS drivers will include round one heat winner Dave Griffin, Kim Jane, Charlie Kovacs, Gary Baxter and the Kanga Loaders team's Rod Wilson.

Hard-man Allan Grice will bolster the blue -- Ford -- corner, along with Luke May, Roy Leaver and Adam Bressington.

Kovacs, from Adelaide, says the trip to Sydney will be worthwhile if he can score a Holden win.

"The Holden V8 engine is very strong at the top end and Eastern Creek's long downhill straight should suit us," Kovacs said.

"It better, because I reckon it will be pretty even between the Holdens and Fords around the rest of the track.

"This round is just too close to call, but I promise the fans will get their money's worth from the V8 Utes."

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