Don't expect tyres to last this weekend

Eastern Creek is always tough on tyres and I reckon the softs will last only 10 laps. That means a totally different strategy approach to previous events where we started on hards, pitted early and hung on with the softs to the end.

We haven't raced at the Creek since 2008, but I've had five race wins there, including Triple Eight's first V8 Supercar race win in 2005, and I've done pretty well with qualifying.

We were last there in early the 2011 tour the pre-season launch and test day and we were fastest on the soft tyre, so I should reasonably expect I can get the car on the first two rows off the grid.

If that's the case, we'll start on the soft tyre and try to gap the field before having to pit and change to the hard tyre for the rest of the race. Tyre wear will be a real unknown for everyone as we've never raced on the soft tyre there before. Also, it has usually been in hotter conditions which tend to shred tyres a lot quicker.

So with the tyre wear uncertainty and less probability of safety cars at the Creek because of the vast run-off areas that encourages starting on softs which is totally opposite to the trend this year. However, there could be several different strategies in the field, so it points to some interesting racing this weekend.

It has often been difficult getting fans out to the Creek because of a lack of public transport, but I hope we get a good crowd. I think we're returning to the Creek as part of a deal with the NSW government which would only support the Homebush finale if we raced at the newly upgraded circuit.

They've spent something like $16m on the upgrades with some track changes and resurfacing that will encourage more passing and better facilities for the fans. I got a chance to drive on it recently and I suspect we'll break Mark Skaife's long-standing lap and race record times this weekend. 

This is the first two-day event with practice, qualifying and racing all on the same day. So any engine dramas like we had in practice at Queensland Raceway can be very damaging to your championship chances. However, it should be good for the punters as they will see more each day than just one qualifying and one race.

While my focus is on this weekend and I always only focus on the next round, I attended the launch of the Gold Coast 600 this week and it got me thinking about the coming enduro events with co-drivers who can have a big effect on your championship.

I've got Warren Luff for the Sandown and Bathurst enduros who has vast experience in V8 Supercars and who I've partnered in the Audi R8. At the Gold Coast I'll be with Richard Lyons who drove with us a couple of years ago in Bathurst. He's Irish and has spent a lot of years in GT racing in Japan, so I think he'll go fine. I'm confident he knows the cars and will be fast, solid and won't take any risks. 

My co-driver from last year, Andy Priaulx, has a clashing event in Europe and I'll miss him. In his absence, the best of the internationals will be Sebastian Bourdais who is co-driving again with my teammate Jamie Whincup. He was very quick last year and has driven there a number of years in the Indy race.