Team HIFLEX's Tony D'Alberto heads to Phillip Island's new, shorter format with two goals – get to the race and get solid results.
At the island circuit last year, D'Alberto was forced out of the race meeting after he contracted the chicken pox.
D'Alberto was admitted to hospital and watched the 500km two-driver race from his home.
His absence from that meeting means that he has never raced a Ford Falcon around the Phillip Island circuit, but he is confident that his lack of recent miles at the 4.4km track will not be an issue.
This weekend's Phillip Island's V8 Supercars event transforms into a single-driver, two race format, having been a two-driver 500km race for the past four years.
While the format has changed, there will be an 'endurance' element to the meeting. V8 co-drivers are permitted to run in the opening two practice sessions. Team HIFLEX will give its endurance driver Dale Wood laps at the track in preparation for the Sandown and Bathurst enduros later this year.
QUOTEBOOK
TONY D'ALBERTO (driver)
"I felt pretty good going into the weekend last year, but I had contracted the chicken pox and had to withdraw Saturday morning," said Tony D'Alberto.
"I did a few laps in the car on Friday, but I felt like death. This year will be the first time I race the Ford there.
"I was very ill. The chicken pox really knocked me around. It's not nice for anyone to have, but the older you are, the worse you feel it and it totally flattened me. I was actually lucky to be well enough to race at Bathurst three weeks later.
"I certainly didn't enjoy watching Phillip Island from the couch, so it's going to be great to get back down to the track, in full health. Like most drivers, its one of my favourite tracks.
"There's no reason why we shouldn't be competitive too. FPR (Team HIFLEX's technical partner) is the form team. They've won seven of the nine races so far, and I want a slice of those results. That's our one and only aim.
"I want to be knocking on their door, and there's no real reason why we can't be punching with them if everything comes together for us.
"For that to happen, we need to tick every box, just like FPR is doing at the moment. You need good pit stops, good strategy, good fuel management and a bit of luck. If we achieve that, get up there with them is not out of the question."
AL D'ALBERTO (team owner)
"Last year was a disappointment for Tony. He was sick and could not race," said Al D'ALberto.
"I was proud of the team for rallying together to get through the race, but we've put all that behind us and this year is a new ball game.
"We're all very confident of a good result and are looking to deliver our sponsors a strong weekend."
