New Zealand's own Team Kiwi Racing will make its Ford debut on home soil this weekend, in the last ever V8 Supercar event at Pukekohe Raceway before a shift to Hamilton next year.

Recently given a clean bill of health to drive after last year's Bathurst incident, Auckland born Paul Radisich is positively itching for a top result at round three of the 2007 Championship.

'The Rat' posted competitive lap times at round two as he settled into the new Ford TKR race-car. Adjusting quickly to the #021 BF Falcon the kiwi driver finished 18th despite minimal time behind the wheel.

"TKR has the strongest Kiwi connection out of all the V8 teams," said Radisich. "The public would love to see the TKR car running at the front and that's exactly what we'll be trying for this weekend.

"I am feeling very good heading into the event. After the crash at Bathurst last year, everything is finally starting to come together. Every week that goes by things are improving.

"We are getting used to the package and gaining an increasing understanding of what is required to achieve results.

"We are aiming for a podium at Pukekohe - at the very least we expect to run inside the top ten. That's our plan, and there's no better place to come away with a result than at home."

Radisich will battle it out on the 2.8 kilometre circuit for the first time in a Ford since racing a BA Falcon with Team Betta Electrical in 2004. 'The Rat' raced for TKR in 2005 and 2006 although the cars run were red.

"It's been a couple of years since I've driven a Falcon at Pukekohe and I'm really looking forward to it.

"I've always had a strong association with Ford - I'm essentially known as a Ford driver - so it will be great to compete at the last ever Pukekohe driving a Falcon and flying the NZ flag high.

"The circuit holds great memories for me. I could think of nothing better than a Kiwi car, team, and driver to finish on the podium at the final race ever.