Frosty warms to new Supercars team

Ford great Mark Winterbottom says he is feeling quietly confident he can turn heads with his new Holden team at the Supercars' opening round in Adelaide.

Mark Winterbottom

Mark Winterbottom is upbeat ahead of the opening V8 Supercars round following his switch to Holden. (AAP)

His move to Holden may not sit well with some fans.

But Ford great Mark Winterbottom reckons he is very comfortable in his Commodore ahead of this weekend's Supercars opening round in Adelaide.

The former championship winner admitted he felt anxious before getting into a Holden for the first time following 13 seasons with Ford flagship Tickford Racing.

No doubt his nerves weren't helped by the heat he copped by Ford fans on social media over the defection.

"I was a bit anxious coming in because you have signed up for something which you think is going to work but you don't know," Winterbottom said.

"It's gamble with any team that you choose.

"There was a bit of anxiety jumping into the car for the first time wondering 'What are we going to do?'."

Winterbottom, 37, felt he had no choice but to look for another team after failing to crack the drivers standings' top five since his 2015 series win.

His low point came last season with a 12th overall placing after he failed to win a single race.

Still, it would have been a culture shock for the driver affectionately known as "Frosty" moving from Tickford Racing's four-car, 60-staff set-up to Holden's single vehicle Team 18 outfit that has 12 employees.

However, the 2013 Bathurst 1000 champion reckons he is now more than comfortable with a move he hopes will revitalise his career despite finishing mid-field at the recent Phillip Island test day.

"I have been looking forward to this day (Adelaide) for a long time," he said.

"I feel pretty comfortable to be honest sitting in the car with the seat height, brake pedals, throttles - all feel comfortable which is good.

"It sounds basic but you do get used to certain seating positions after a while (in same team) but I feel comfortable - I am having a ball."

All the hype ahead of the Adelaide 500 opener has surrounded the return of Ford's Mustang which will replace Falcons this season.

But Winterbottom was quietly confident he could turn heads in his Commodore on the tough Adelaide street circuit.

"Adelaide is going to be a bit better (than test day results) than I predicted hopefully," he said.

"It is going to be a big year but I feel like I am in a good head space.

"With this team around me I feel confident.

"I feel I have the team around me. Now it's time to do the job because results are what it is about."


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Source: AAP


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