Supercars champion Shane Van Gisbergen admits time is running out if he's to realistically defend his title in 2017.
The Red Bull Racing star had a double podium weekend at Queensland Raceway with a pair of third-place finishes in the Ipswich Supersprint event.
But championship leader Scott McLaughlin's win and a second means the Ford driver has extended the margin to his rivals in the title race.
Van Gisbergen sits fourth in the standings, 261 points behind McLaughlin.
The New Zealander, who opened the year with a clean sweep at the season opening event in Adelaide, says getting back on the top step of the podium is the only way he can keep himself in the hunt for the championship.
"We're obviously not out of it until Gold Coast but we need to start winning races," Van Gisbergen said.
"We had a good points weekend here, two thirds, but the guy leading the championship is doing better and not making mistakes.
"We can't wait for them to make mistakes, we have to improve."
Key to turning the form around is Van Gisbergen's qualifying efforts.
The 28-year-old has only been on the front row of the grid once since Adelaide while McLaughlin is on a streak of 14 consecutive front-row qualifying performances.
"I was pretty happy with my car in qualifying but ... I was seventh but only a tenth (of a second) off (pole)," Van Gisbergen said.
"As a driver it's pretty awesome for everything to be so close but to be so close and seventh on the grid is quite tough.
"Qualifying is something I have always not been the best at but definitely been getting better and better."
