KEY POINTS:
If the New Zealand round of the Australian V8 Supercar championship was a baseball game, Holden's at-bat record would be 100 per cent.
For the past seven years, so long as a team ran a Holden it didn't matter who stepped up to the plate, because at Pukekohe it has been the General Motors lion that has eaten all before it.
Things might be about to change for Ford, though. The fight for boasting rights at the third round of the 2008 title chase is not only going to take place on a new battleground, Hamilton, but also on a street circuit.
"I'm really looking forward to it this weekend," said TeamVodafone Ford driver and current points leader Jamie Whincup.
"It's no secret we're going to miss Pukekohe as that was a great race track but, hey, it's a street circuit and it brings the entertainment to the people."
For a lot of drivers, it is exciting to turn up to a circuit that is new and embrace the challenges of trying to figure out how to set the car up and where the right racing lines are. Three-time champion and Whincup's teammate Craig Lowndes is one of those drivers looking forward to the new Hamilton circuit.
"Everyone turns up to a new circuit without any data," said Lowndes. "Most of the tracks we go to, 90 per cent of the car is set up before we even get there. At a new track it's more like flying by the seat of your pants."
At a purpose-built track the people have to go to the complex, whereas at a street race, the cars and drivers go where the people are.
"Street circuits seem to suit our car setup and mentality. Exciting times," said Lowndes
Winning on a new track is all about tuning the car's chassis and who can get it right the quickest. Being part of a two-car team, Whincup and Lowndes have a distinct advantage over single car teams as they will be able to exchange information to get the best out of both Fords.
"Craig and I push each other but we also work well together," said Whincup. "We'll go into the weekend with different strategies and see which one works best."
It has been suggested that as Hamilton is new to all the teams and drivers, race day will see a level playing field.
"It's anyone's game on the day because you never know what's going to happen during racing," said Whincup. "But I can't see all the top teams and drivers having a shocker at the same time."
For most drivers with their eye on the championships, it is all about accumulating points, but not for series leader Whincup. "For me it's all about the round win," he said. "It's just my style, and it does cost me.
"Win or bust - it's all about the race win for me. I'm just going to go out there and go flat out."
