I’m on the long road to Phillip Island as I officially begin my race week today stopping off at MTD lawnmowers in Melbourne this afternoon for an appearance and a lunch, it should be good fun and I get to get the car out for some photos and tours.

Tomorrow I will be at Federation Square with all the other drivers from 7-9am as we cook a large breakfast on the BBQ. All the guys are pretty handy, so if you’re keen for a feed and to meet us come down to Fed Square.

From there it’s off to Phillip Island for the weekend, which kicks off with Simon and I partaking in a Go Kart challenge on a replica of the circuit which Intermedia have set up. I believe we will be racing Murph and Jason as well, as they are also sponsored by Intermedia. It will be good to get the competitive juices flowing early on.

I’m looking forward to Phillip Island, it’s a circuit I have had some success at.

In 2002 I was on pole for the Formula Fords, and in 2004 I was on the front row alongside Frosty in the development series. I also went reasonably well there last year when driving for Tasman.

I think it could be a good weekend for me and the team. The car setup is very similar to the one we had for Bathurst and I had pace there. The track is also a bit similar in the sense that there are a large amount of sweeping bends which you can carry speed through, rather than tight circuits where the racing involves a lot of braking then accelerating.

I’m hoping to make it through to the second group in qualifying ad to get into the points from there. It would certainly be nice to end the season on a high and we will be aiming to do that.

I still think Jamie Whincup will win the Championship, he has had to overcome a lot of tough breaks early in his career and has bounced back well enough to show he has what it takes to win the title.

My prediction actually has zero to do with brand loyalty it’s just how I feel things will play out.

After the race weekend is finished I have the V8 Supercar Awards dinner on Monday night at Crown Casino and I’m looking forward to it, but then I’m off to a drive day at Calder where I will give plenty of people a ride in a V8 Supercar.

Outside of racing I am looking forward to Christmas. I’m a bit of a nut for Christmas and am looking forward to putting the tree up and decorating the house.

Thanks for all the comments, please keep them coming, and here are a couple of responses.

Karl: Not a problem, it was a pleasure. I often look for people who are hanging around the pit area and offer them a tour, at least a couple of times a weekend. If it made your weekend I am happy, the fans give so much to the sport with your support and without it we would struggle.

I actually never have a lot to do with working on the cars, however I still have a couple of weeks of work to do before then end of they year, and I usually exercise pretty regularly up until Christmas when I allow myself a break and the opportunity to eat a lot of food, which reminds me to remind all of you safety around BBQs is important, and if you need a reminder of what to look for check out www.boc.com.au
 
I also don’t mind being called Andy. My mum hates it but it doesn’t bother me.

Come Sunday afternoon my chief engineer Matt will have completed his last race with the team. He came to us from Canada midway through the season and has done a fantastic job. I want to wish him and his wife Karen all the best as they head off on a trip around the country.

Jonesy

The upshot of the weekend is I am very much looking forward to Phillip Island and am thankful Tassie wasn’t the final race of the season.
 
Needless to say it wasn’t a good weekend. Actually, it was a disaster.
 
Our speed in qualifying was poor, and if you’re 28th and 29th respectively, then there is something [...]

I’m really looking forward to heading to Tasmania this week.
 
I went for the first time last year and really enjoyed the place, it’s very laid back and Launceston at least has the feeling of a quaint English village. It’s the type of place I could get used to, but the weather is always a [...]

It was probably never meant to be in Bahrain.
 
I got a nasty dose of the flu on arrival and was struggling health wise, so couple that with getting hit from behind twice in the one weekend obviously did my chances no good. And for the people who hit me to go unpunished was just [...]