Back where I started

This is a brand new column for a brand new season but with an old manufacturer — one that I started with and am happy to be back with. My career has now gone full circle.

To all the Ford fans, it's like closing a chapter in my racing career and I still feel, I suppose, disappointed that I wasn't able to achieve a championship for you. That is something of an unfulfilled dream for me.

Then we'll have the weekend to sort out any problems that may arise before we have another shakedown on Monday.  Every new car gets a 20-lap shakedown. That means we can sort out the cars before Tuesday's test day when all the V8 Supercars come out on the track and have their first serious session.  Hopefully our shakedown will sort out any niggling problems so we don't waste valuable testing time.

It's not only been 10 years since I was in a Holden but also 10 years since I won a championship and anyone who says I don't have the passion and desire for another title win certainly doesn't know me.

My biggest letdown in the past couple of years has been consistency and I will be concentrating on that side of things this season.  At 35, I know it's still in me to win. I've still got the speed to produce race wins as I proved late last year; now I just have to turn that into another championship.

The average age when I first got involved in this sport was 38-40 and now it's about 24.  Obviously you have to be well aware of the younger generation coming into any sport.  Youth brings a lot of enthusiasm and determination, but with that they also bring some arrogance and mistakes.

I have to focus on my achievements, my knowledge, my strengths and I'm even more determined now because of the change in manufacturers.  Over the break I have also been working super-hard on my fitness and competed in Australia's Greatest Athlete on Channel Seven starting tomorrow.

This year I am the stand-in for motor racing, taking over from my teammate (Jamie Whincup) who did such a good job last year.  I'm not allowed to say where I finished, but I can tell you I went well in any category that involved a motor.

My weakest asset was explosive speed, but anything to do with endurance and long distance I was very competitive.  All I can say is that I didn't let the motorsport side down and was happy with the my achievements. I think I surprised a lot of people, just like Jamie did.

The big news this week was the announcement that I am back again with my former HRT teammate Mark Skaife for the endurance rounds.  I remember when we were the supposed Dream Team at HRT we were hugely competitive against each other.

Then I switched to Ford and we became rivals with great battles on the track - like Senna and Prost or Brock and Johnson - but we also had huge respect for each other.  Now teaming up with him again I am personally excited knowing that when we get to the endurance spec of the year his ability to get into a race car and feel it and understand it will be a huge asset.

So there you go, my aim for this year is to win a championship and Bathurst again.  Wish me luck.