Fourteen championship rounds feature in this years championship. Following the Clipsal 500 Adelaide with its two 250 kilometre races, a series of three-race sprint rounds will feature, with all races covering 120 kilometres in distance (it’s a wonder therefore, why some events possess names such as the Bigpond 400). The traditional endurance races at Sandown (500 kilometres) and the legendary Bathurst 1000 divide the short distance events, before a final run of races including the Indy 300 support event, the second-ever trip to Bahrain and the final round at Phillip Island.
Eastern Creek also returns to the championship at the start of the year, with a three race round heralding its addition to the calendar after a one year hiatus.
Form Guide in Brief
Holden
Holden’s arsenal looks promising for 2007, with the likes of the Toll HSV Dealer Team and Holden Racing Team’s again looking like the General’s star operations. However with unspectacular times in testing thus far, it appears as though many of the Commodore outfits are having difficulties coming to grips with the new model.
Indeed, after the two aforementioned teams, Holden’s talent pool appears quite shallow. Daylight separates the Walkinshaw Performance squads from the rest of the field. Only the likes of Jack Daniel’s Racing and Supercheap Auto Racing strike as any real chance of challenging these teams, but JDR has two rookies, whilst Supercheap has had difficulties preparing even one new car for the season start.
Tasman Motorsport also poses a threat, although they will need to get a grasp on the new package in addition to the inconsistent setup of pervious seasons.
For Holden to maintain its mantle as Drivers’ Champion and retain the number one plate, it really needs to provide assistance to some of the smaller teams, especially if the current saga with the Holden Racing Team and Toll HSV Dealer Team goes awry for those concerned.
At this stage Holden’s championship contenders are names such as Garth Tander, Todd Kelly and Mark Skaife.
Can Rick Kelly defend his title? After a conservative approach in 2006, netting just one race win, it looks like 2007 will be interesting for the young champion – racing hard will be his key for victory, but will his conservative approach be entrenched at least for the start of the season?
My tips
Lead championship charger: Garth Tander
Best at Bathurst: Mark Skaife/Todd Kelly
Top TeamHolden Racing Team
Ford
The Blue Oval lost its Drivers’ and Teams’ crowns in 2006. But it has laid solid foundations for its 2007 campaign. A spread of teams has the ability to challenge in 2007 – the usual Blue Oval frontrunners in Ford Performance Racing and TeamVodafone have again showed promise in pre-season testing, especially FPR. Ex-champions Stone Brothers Racing look to improve this year, after a disappointing 2006 that saw them lose their title as the best team and driver combination in the series.
![Toll HSV's new Holden Commodore VE [pic credit: Toll HSV media]](http://pix.crash.net/thumbs/289748.jpg)
