There’s been no shortage of incidents and highlights in the V8 Supercar championship so far this season and, as you’ll all be aware, I have been in the middle of a lot of it. The television and print media coverage of the incidents have pretty much told the story so there’s no need for me to comment. I have always tried to move on and not dwell on negatives. Racing for the 2005 championship is my number one goal – a goal that I believe is achievable.

Speaking of highlights, the trip to Shanghai has certainly been one of the highlights for me this season. While the Fords seemed to struggle with set-up for the Shanghai circuit, it was a big day for the series when the V8 supercars headed onto the track for the first time for Friday practice. The track offers plenty of slower corners and a back straight where we were reaching speeds near 280km/h. The facilities were first-class for the teams, and the race fans that loved KFC were also catered for. It did seem different, though, looking out the back of the garage and not seeing the race trucks.

The massive job of moving 32 cars, equipment and teams 10,000km to a place where the language and culture differs totally to ours was a remarkable achievement and proves that the series can successfully find new international venues. The massive front-straight grandstand seemed pretty full from where I stood on Sunday morning, which is an indication that the Chinese were interested enough to come out and sample the V8 series. It was also great to so many familiar faces so far from home, with the V8 Supercar travel groups all coming down to show their support and offer encouraging words.

The Shanghai round now offers the fans a chance to combine a V8 round with a holiday. Shanghai and its locals are an amazing combination, with culture and language differences ensuring much fun but also some frustration. I'm sure the 2006 Shanghai round will now be a trip that many more locals and Aussies will be making.

Since my last V8X column, I’ve travelled to NASCAR country in North Carolina for a few meetings and a drive. I have made some great contacts now over there, guys who may be able to help out with the mission to race full-time there next year. I got to drive a Richard Petty school car there at three different tracks. While they were nowhere near the handling or horsepower of the real thing, it gave me a taste of oval racing and the driving techniques I will need to work on. A V8 Supercar and NASCAR race car are two very different beasts. V8 Supercar is all about handling and set-up, while NASCAR is about learning to drive at high speed with minimal aero and grip with cars continually changing over the course of the race. Each trip I make to the States, though, gives me the confidence that the NASCAR dream is achievable. – Marcos