“Tassie was good to us last year and we had a strong car package, the two Sunday races are now 140kms each which will suit the way we set the car up.”
“We have not yet had a wet race at Symmons Plains so things could certainly get interesting if we have rain, it is also a track that is semi-difficult to pass on, so team strategy and qualifying position will be the keys to getting a good result.”
Meanwhile, Rick Kelly is gunning to close the thirty point gap to Lowndes this weekend, at a circuit where the HSV Dealer Team finished 1-2 last year. Kelly has become a powerful member of the Holden Motorsport machine in 2006, but having not won a round, it would perhaps be a hollow victory to take out the championship without one.
“We are trying not to think about the championship. It is important for us to focus on the job at hand and make the most of every session and every race,” said Rick Kelly.
“This season, we have been out of the limelight a little bit, and Erik (Pender), Craig (Spencer) and I have just tickled away at the car and got good results. That’s what we want to do again this weekend.
“Obviously, Symmons Plains was a good track for us last year. Certainly, it is not going to be easy this year. A few teams who are quick had a few problems last year, so we won’t be discounting HRT, Triple 8 and others. So we need to go there prepared for a fair dinkum battle and get some points.”
Mark Winterbottom is on the outer of the contenders’ circle, however should either of the aforementioned drivers encounter misfortunes this weekend, the 2003 Konica Series Champion is ready to pounce.
"We head to Tasmania in good shape following our final test day of the year where we were able to do race distance tests to ensure that we make the most of our tyres at Symmons Plains and at the remaining rounds of the season,” said Winterbottom.
