Team Kiwi Racing (TKR) return to the V8 Supercar Championship in Sydney this weekend with a new car and new driver.
TKR have missed three rounds of the championships after a troubled season.
The setbacks included Ford Performance Racing cancelling an engineering contract because of a dispute over
money and driver Paul Radisich quitting.
New Zealand teenager Shane Van Gisbergen has been signed to replace Radisich and team boss David John accepts the youngster faces a tough initiation period.
"Testing is one thing but being caught up in the rough and tumble will be something else," John said today.
"And let's be fair, there will be plenty of battled-hardened Australians who won't like the thought of a young kid from New Zealand having a crack at them.
"It will be a baptism of fire for Shane but we know that he is going to be around for the long haul in this business."
Van Gisbergen, 18, has had a busy schedule since he was signed as the new TKR driver three weeks ago.
"The last few weeks have just been amazing, to dream about being a V8 Supercar driver and then to be provided the opportunity is so exciting.
"I have already learned a lot over the last few weeks about the business and just how many people are involved making this opportunity work."
Van Gisbergen has also had to adapt his lifestyle to maximise his opportunity.
"I'm no longer a student so I can concentrate fulltime on the opportunity in front of me."
Practice at Oran Park is tomorrow, with qualifying and the first race on Saturday and two races on Sunday.
- NZPA
