With the top three drivers in the V8 Supercar championship it is hard to believe Ford could finish 2005 without a single trophy.

But that is the situation as the series heads to the penultimate round at Tasmania's Symmons Plains this weekend.

While the blue oval team could not be better positioned for a third successive driver's title and back-to-back manufacturer's award, opposition Holden are lurking ominously behind ahead of its two strongest circuits.

Russell Ingall, Marcos Ambrose and Craig Lowndes lead the closest series race in a long time with Holden Racing Team's Mark Skaife and Todd Kelly snapping at their heels with 110 points separating the top five.

In the manufacturers' title race Ford lead Holden with six round wins to five.

A win in Tassie or the final round at Phillip Island would seal that silverware for Ford.

But Holden hold a 75 per cent win ratio at Symmons Plains and 70 per cent at Phillip Island - the testing track for HRT.

Series leader and defending Tassie champ Ingall says ideally Ford will seal the manufacturers' title this weekend and he will head to Melbourne in two weeks with only his blue oval teammates to worry about.

"It's a great situation for Ford, having the fight amongst the three of us," said Ingall.

"It's important that we don't give away anything to the opposition. That includes championship points or race wins. The best way to decide the championship is by having all three of us at the front.

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