Oz: Sofi ready for Mallala challenge.

Transwest Racing driver Mat Sofi is hopeful of a strong run as Mallala Raceway this weekend in what he expects to be one of the most open race weekends in the race for the Kumho Tyres Australian Formula 3 Championship for the CAMS Gold Star.

Coming off the back of a strong performance on home turf recently, Sofi said he felt that Mallala is one of the best tracks on the schedule for producing close and competitive racing - and one where you can win even if things aren't going totally to plan.

"At Mallala, you can still be competitive if you don't have a car that's quite 100 per cent," he explained. "It's a fast track but it doesn't have that many high speed corners. It's more of a stop and go circuit which means a driver can use the braking zones and the areas when you are putting the power down to make up time. If you don't have a brilliant car there you can drive around it and still be competitive.

"It's a track I really enjoy. It's challenging and suits these cars down the ground. We can race well here and there are plenty of places to have a shot at passing, which makes it a very enjoyable place to visit."

After spending most of 2007 racing with an Adelaide team, Sofi has plenty of testing experience at Mallala which further boosts confidence ahead of the weekend.

"We test on Wednesday and that's always a pretty good indicator of where we sit in the scheme of things," he said. "Obviously we have to compete with Team BRM, who use Mallala as their home test track and have done plenty of days there in the '07 cars, but we were fast there last season and I've done more days testing at Mallala than I have at the tracks in Sydney - so I think we will be OK.

"I want to be in a position to challenge for wins on race day and continually improve my championship position. I think Mallala is the place to do it and I can't wait!"