The car has some pedigree, having last year been a Ford Performance Racing badged car, so the new pit crew, mechanics and engineers know it's been put together properly. However, Mt Panorama is a hard mistress and the Bathurst 1000 is a place where each and every car needs a healthy dose of luck to get to the end.
That place has broken many a car and team and made grown men cry in frustration and pain. Some have even lost their lives on The Mountain. Pedersen and Heimgartner are two rising prospects in V8 racing. Both are contesting the Dunlop Development series as well as the NZ V8 SuperTourers and have been to Bathurst, albeit only twice.
Stepping up to big kahuna of the main game, and the 1000 itself, is going to be hard enough for the pair. The cunning plan is to stay out of trouble, not get in the way of the big boys chasing a championship try and make it to the end of the race, preferably on the lead lap.
Although the drivers and car had a shakedown at Winton in the run-up to this weekend, nothing compares to the rigours of the Mt Panorama circuit. At the time of going to press the pair have turned a number of laps and all is going according to plan with both drivers happy with the progress leading into the race tomorrow.
"It was great to turn some laps and the car feels good," said Heimgartner. "I can't wait to turn a few more laps. It was a pretty special moment actually, realising a dream has come true.
"It's great that we got five test sessions to get a real feel for the car and how it reacted to the track before qualifying. Also, racing in the Develop Series helps me get even more time on the circuit so at least I should have the track nailed by Sunday."
Pedersen is of the same mindset as his co-driver and is taking a softly, softly approach.
There are enough practice sessions to ease himself into his work before trying to go for broke.
"A really important box has been ticked for the team," said Pedersen. "We've had a few practice sessions go well, the car is straight and we've had no problems. Basically the car feels fine and we just have a few small things to fine tune.
I know the track's been resurfaced but I haven't been here for a few years so I can't really tell the difference.
"I just can't wait for the weekend to roll on and we get to go racing."
It'll only sink in just how far the pair has come in the past few years tomorrow morning. First when Pedersen is sitting in the car waiting for the lights to go out to start the race, and for Heimgartner when he leaves the team's pit box for his first stint in the Great Race.
