Never look behind you

We look ahead, because that’s where the car is pointed and that’s where first position is.

So I’m not looking back at the last round and the DNF against my name in Tassie. It’s a long season and we’re only coming up to the third round, so I’m not too concerned about sliding down to eighth position.

Besides, everyone has at least one bad round. It’s just that I’ve already had mine so I can’t afford to have any more. We just have to get back to what we do well and make the best of every race and round and make it winner.

So I’m looking ahead to next weekend in New Zealand. This is the last time we will race on the streets of Hamilton because their contract has expired, which is a bit of a shame.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, we absolutely must race in New Zealand. We have a huge fan base there and a lot of crew and drivers who are Kiwis.

But Hamilton just didn’t draw big enough crowds to make it viable. There is talk that we could go back to Pukekhoe which is a great track with a fast back straight, tight hairpin and a lovely flowing section past the pits. If it was available I wouldn’t be too disappointed in returning there.

Another possibility is the Hampton Downs circuit near Auckland which has some good elevation changes. It’s short, but no shorter than Perth or Symmons Plains.

I don’t have a preference for the South Island or North Island, but if we go to a street circuit, it really needs to be either Auckland or Wellington in the North Island as they have larger population bases and more tourism.

Growing up as a kid, I always enjoyed watching the touring cars race at Wellington. I’ve never had a chance to race there, but I would certainly put my hand up for it.

I have always supported races at tracks because they provide permanent infrastructure that can be used all year round, but I do enjoy street circuits. They are a huge challenge, a great spectacle and they place a lot of emphasis on the driver to make a difference

Drivers have to be a lot braver on street circuits with concrete walls on either side, especially in the rain. 

And, if you forget about the electrical gremlins that spoilt my Gold Coast party last year, we actually did pretty well on the streets last year.