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Kelly chased home the winner Craig Lowndes last year to eventually lose by just six tenths of a second.
Even allowing for various safety car periods in V8 Supercar events, 6/10ths is a narrow margin in a 1000km race.
Kelly was on Lowndes' tail for the final seven lap sprint but could never get close enough to lunge. Many Holden fans believe Lowndes had some extra curricular help from other Ford drivers around the mountain in holding off Kelly's challenge.
Kelly drove with his older brother Todd last year but this year will be joined by regular teammate Garth Tander for Toll Racing.
Rick Kelly has finished a close second in the last three endurance races on the V8 calendar but the Bathurst loss is the one which stings the most.
“Last year's result hurt quite a bit,” Kelly said yesterday.
“To lose Bathurst by 6/10th is extremely painful. And that motivates me to come back and take it out this year.
“Garth and I have a good chance.
“If we can take out Bathurst it would not only be a feather in the cap but another big step for both of us towards winning the championship.”
After being split into separate cars at Sandown last month, Kelly and Tander — separated by just nine points in the 2007 championship — have been united for Bathurst.
Toll officials announced yesterday that Tander would qualify the car and Kelly would start the race.
Tander can match his co-driver's Bathurst disappointments in spades.
In 2005 when they last teamed up Tander was crunched on the first lap and last year he did not even get to turn a wheel when his partner Mark Skaife was hammered on the first lap after experiencing clutch problems.
“The last two Bathurst races have been over almost before they began for me,” Tander said.
“I am looking forward to qualifying because qualifying at Bathurst is the best session of the year.
“After that I have to capitalise on the work Rick has done in the first stint. Bathurst is all about commitment and most of the gains come from digging deeper — and getting a time out of yourself instead of the car.”
Despite a perceived speed advantage for the Toll cars this season, Tander says he and Kelly will not be trying to run away form the Bathurst field — rather they will concentrate on keeping a steady rhythm, saving the car so it's in good shape for the run home.
