The 2007 V8 Supercar Championship Series continued several years of close, hard and competitive motor racing for Australia's premier touring car category.
It was the first year that the new Holden VE Commodore and Ford BF Falcon were used in the category, which meant new changes to the parity between the two manufacturers.
For the first time in the championship, V8 Supercars did not support the Australian
Formula One Grand Prix at Albert Park. Instead, thirty-one entries lined up on the grid for the season-opening Clipsal 500 without turning a wheel in anger.
Following a tight 2006 series finish, the reigning series champion, Rick Kelly, won the Clipsal 500 for the Toll HSV Dealer Team.
His brother Todd collected the most points from the Adelaide Parklands Circuit – allowing the Holden Racing Team driver to gain an early ascendancy in the title standings.
Enter Garth Tander.
Having finished fourth in the 2006 championship for the Toll HSV Dealer Team, Tander headed to his home event in Western Australia to dominate every session of the weekend – finishing top in practice, qualifying and the three sprint races at Barbagallo Raceway.
It laid the foundations for Tander to build on his pre-season favouritism, and work towards clinching his first championship title.
But Tander was faced by challenges from Ford, Holden and within his own home - his team mate was the reigning champion after all.
Rick Kelly's title defence was going well during the early stages of the championship. After winning the Clipsal 500, and claiming the championship lead at Barbagallo, he went on to claim round honours in New Zealand – awarded the win at Pukekohe after finishing equal with Tander – and delivering the Toll HSV Dealer Team a one-two stance in the points.
After complete domination early in the championship by Holden, alarm bells were ringing at Ford.
The General had taken victory in each of the opening eight races of the championship, and had already taken pole and filled the top three of every race at Barbagallo.
Holden's flagship teams, combined with the new VE Commodore, seemed unstoppable.
However, Ford was given breathing space at Winton, when Jamie Whincup delivered the Blue Oval its first race win of the season, in addition to a round victory.
