HPDC: Luff takes runners-up spot.

Decina Racing has secured second overall in the HPDC V8 Supercar championship after another strong drive by Warren Luff into third place at Phillip Island.

The championship was still open going into the second and final race at Phillip Island's picturesque circuit with Luff just 27 points behind the series leader Dean Canto.

The final race of the season proved to be a close affair with Luff passing Tony D'Alberto on lap nine before beginning to chase down the race leaders Dean Canto and Adam Macrow who were engaged in a tough battle.

Luff made ground over the race, but due to the rare passing opportunities around the track was unable to find a way past Canto, who eventually finished second for the round to Macrow. It was a position that was enough to ensure he secured the 2005 HPDC V8 Supercar Series Championship.

It was ultimately a successful season for Decina Racing, with the team consistently running at the front of the field and according to Luff this was due to the efforts of everybody involved in getting the car onto the track.

"It is a good achievement by the whole team to finish second, but obviously we go into every race with the mindset to win so in that respect we aren't as happy as we would like to be," said Luff.

"For me the highlight of the year was the way the team came together and worked so well, because at the end of last year there was the merging of two teams in Paul Cruickshank Racing and Speed FX Racing and it was a new environment for me and there was a new car for the team.

"So there was a lot of pressure and expectation of the team and I am proud of the way we have all come together and worked so hard toward a common goal and get us to where we are."

Luff said that 2005 season was one of highs and lows including the horror start for the team at Adelaide when it suffered two punctures, but all in all he was satisfied with the way the seaon finished.

"All in it was a great result for the team and we finished on a strong note here at Phillip Island with the speed of the car here being very good.

"We had a few clutch dramas off the start in both races which dropped us back but it saying that overall it really has been a great year and it is certainly nothing to be disappointed about."

Decina Racing Team boss Jim Morton was also pleased with the outcome to the season and confirmed the Decina Racing team will be back in 2006 with the mission of going one better.

"Now that the season is done I guess I am feeling good and bad," said Morton. "It has been good to come second in a category like this, although of course first would have been better. But it is a great team achievement and over the season we have been very consistent and I think the whole team has done a good job with the car and Warren has done a good job on the track.

"So second overall in a hard fought championship that literally came down to the last race of the year is a worthy result for the team and when we go away I am sure we will all be satisfied that we have put in our absolute best effort and have come away with a good result because of that.

"We would certainly like to go one better next year and we are looking forward to contesting the Fujitsu championship. Our major supporter Decina Bathware, has enjoyed really good exposure throughout the season and I believe that the TV exposure so far this year has been worth $800,000 and probably after this weekend over a million, which is fantastic for brand awareness.

"I have no doubt that there are now a lot more people that know about our brand Decina at the end of this year as opposed to at the start, which was one of the prime objectives for the team as well."

Decina Racing will return for the 2006 Fujitsu V8 Supercar Series at the Clipsal 500 in Adelaide on March 23-26.