Tony D'Alberto is recharged and ready to take on the remaining events of the V8 Supercars Championship after a mid-season holiday in Thailand.
The #3 Team HIFLEX Ford Falcon driver has spent the past week in Thailand on a short holiday with wife Steffanie, taking advantage of the five-week break between Phillip Island and this weekend's Skycity Triple Crown at Hidden Valley Raceway.
The pair was joined in their Thailand holiday get-away by endurance driver team-mate Dale Wood and his wife Jess.
With a short stay over and out, D'Alberto's focus returns to his V8 Supercars campaign, which had hit a rough patch in the past two rounds, dogged by mechanical issues that thwarted his strong early-season pace.
Team HIFLEX heads into this weekend confident it has resolved its issues and hopes to repeats its stunning pace from the Darwin circuit last year where D'Alberto recorded a sixth place finish in Saturday's race.
Four practice sessions will be held on Friday (tomorrow), with Wood eligible to compete in the first two sessions under the sport's co-driver rules.
Saturday's track action will include a 20 minute qualifying session, followed by a top 10 shootout. Race 12 will be held over 42 laps.
On Sunday, another 20 minute qualifying will sort the field for the longer 69 lap event.
QUOTEBOOK
TONY D'ALBERTO (team driver)
"The Thailand holiday was just the thing I needed to relax and get re-focused for the rest of the 2012 V8 season," Tony D'Alberto said.
"We had a terrific time. We did some sight seeing, enjoyed the night life, but most of all, took our minds off things and relaxed. It's very rare that we get an opportunity to do that, so I'm glad that we made time to do it.
"Hidden Valley is a great race track and one that I have fond memories of. Last year, we had a very fast car and finished sixth, so I'll certainly be looking to repeat that, or perhaps go even better.
"While I've been on holidays and enjoying some sun, the boys at the workshop have been working really hard and have told me that we'll be in good shape for the weekend.
"Darwin is always one of the best weekends of the year, so I can't wait to get into it."
AL D'ALBERTO (team owner)
"It's lucky for some to have time to go on a mid-season holiday – others have to stay at home and earn a living!" Al D'Alberto said.
"It's actually good to for Tony to have the time off. He's says that he has recharged his batteries, because he's going to need it – the season gets very frantic from here until December.
"We're all looking forward to Darwin this weekend and will be aiming for some strong results."
