Motorsport: Tander confident as HRT eyes flying start

The Holden Racing Team is confident of a good season start at this weekend's Clipsal 500 in Adelaide. Photo / Getty Images

ADELAIDE - Holden's Garth Tander believes his Ford V8 championship rivals face a huge test bedding down a brand new car amid the most sweeping off-season changes in the sport's history.

On the eve of the new season kicking off at the Clipsal 500 in Adelaide this weekend, Tander is exuding a Zen-like calm going into his second year at the Holden Racing Team.

The 2007 champion believes his preparation is the best he has ever undertaken before a season, both personally and as part of a team build-up he rates the most professional he's been involved with in his 10-year V8 career.

But Tander is relieved as he and the 28 other drivers get ready to adapt to a huge raft of rule changes for 2009, bedding down a new car is something he won't have to contend with.

That's an issue for his nearest rivals - defending champion Jamie Whincup, his Triple Eight Racing teammate Craig Lowndes and Ford Performance Racing's Mark Winterbottom and Steven Richards.

All will be driving new FG Falcons in anger for the first time in qualifying on Friday and the two 250km races on Saturday and Sunday around the Adelaide street circuit.

Tander said Holden had shown it was possible to roll a new car straight out of the box and be successful.

His then-teammate Rick Kelly did just that at the 2007 Clipsal 500 with the VE Commodore.

"We don't have to deal with it, and we did a good job when we had to deal with it," Tander said.

"We (Walkinshaw Racing - HRT's owners) did a very good job when we brought the VE to Adelaide and won right out of the box," Tander said.

"Obviously we put a lot of hard work into it, as I would expect Triple Eight and FPR have done also.

"They've proven in their testing there's nothing wrong with the speed of their car.

"Perhaps they might have a few question marks more at the start of the year as because I don't necessarily think that what worked on the last car will work on this car."

Major changes in the 2009 championship include the introduction of an ethanol-based fuel, abolishing the compulsory pit stop window, the return of the top 10 shootout in qualifying and recognition for each individual race win rather than round wins.

Tander, who turns 32 later this month, goes into the season as Holden's best hope of wresting the championship from Ford, and with a new teammate.

Young gun Will Davison's off-season defection from Ford's Jim Beam Racing to replace Mark Skaife has added a new competitive edge for Tander to deal with - and he's relishing the challenge.

"Will and I are very much looking forward to working together this year and having a new era for HRT.

"There's no doubt Mark was the heart and soul of this team. He was here for 11 years and won a lot of races and a lot of championships.

"For Will and I, it's a real opportunity to carry that mantle forward.

"We're very confident with our speed and where we're at, and we're looking forward to race one."

Davison is one of several key off-season driver movements.

Another Ford rising star James Courtney replaces Davison at Jim Beam Racing, while Rick and Todd Kelly team up at new Holden outfit Kelly Racing.

Around 300,000 people are expected over the four days of the Clipsal 500 event, which started on Thursday with support races.

- AAP