The newest V8 Supercar team, Lockwood Racing, is gunning for the top step of the podium in its first season.
Its Holden Commodore will be piloted by ex-Walkinshaw Racing driver Fabian Coulthard and is part of the Brad Jones Racing stable.
BJR is one of the smaller squads in the V8 pack and the Albury-based outfit is the only team from a regional centre. It broke through for a win with driver Jason Bright last season.
Race data including car set-ups are shared between its three near-identical cars, which means Coulthard will should be able to run at the pointy end.
“Obviously the speed last year showed all the fundamentals are in place and that the car is a winning car,” Coulthard said.
The Kiwi racer, who is a second cousin of former Formula One driver David Coulthard, has scored a podium place but is still looking for a win.
“We have had some good years in V8 Supercars but we have always wanted to go one step better,” he said.
The Lockwood Racing Commodore is one of the best looking cars on the grid, sporting a dramatic livery penned by the GM Holden design team in Melbourne.
It will be accompanied by a team mascot, a tradie made out of foam called Max Lockwood complete with a foam tool-belt, who will travel to each round.
Team boss Kim Jones said he expected Coulthard would be extremely fast, but issued him a tongue-in-cheek warning: “Max is ready and raring to go if Fabian falters.”