Having moved to the head of the pack last time out in Bahrain, Garth Tander will aim to cement his championship lead with a third straight win in Tasmania as the V8 Supercar Championship heads to Symmons Plains for the penultimate round of the year.
The Toll HSV Dealer Team driver goes into the event with a 20 point lead over Craig Lowndes in the standings and will aim to build on a run of form that has seen him win five of the past six races at the 2.4km circuit.
Indeed, Tander would have won all six had it not been for an engine misfire and he should be the man to beat going into the weekend leaving him confident of a solid meeting to strengthen his championship position,
We have a very small lead in the points, so it is good to be going to one of our strongest tracks statistically at this critical point in the championship, he said. The track seems to suit my driving style. A lot of people don't like the circuit they think it is too small and too tight. But I like the circuit; I really enjoy it.
I think we seem to have a reasonable handle on the set-up for there. Couple that with enjoying the track and something that suits my style and we seem to go quite well.
However, Tander won't have it all his own way, with team-mate Rick Kelly having enjoyed his own measure of success at the circuit outside Launceston.
The reigning champion won a race there in 2004 and looked good for a round victory until an electrical gremlin intervened in race two. He also scored a podium finish behind Tander in 2005.
Last year, Kelly helped to set up his championship victory when he came fourth at Tassie to turn a points deficit to rival Craig Lowndes into a lead a scenario he will be hoping to repeat this year.
