HSV Dealer team pairing Rick Kelly and Paul Dumbrell willꦿ aim to start the season in competitive fashion as the 2008 V8 Supercar C🍎hampionship season kicks off this weekend with the Clipsal 500 in Adelaide.

Kelly heads to the event having recorded a time marginal🅘ly behind 2007 V8 Supercar Champion Garth Tander in testing at W🎉inton, despite some major off-season movements that saw his former team-mate leave the Dealer Team and major personnel changes.

Erik Pender is the new team manager at the Dealer Te🥃am while Alistair McVean will engineer the #15 car with a new look orange, black and silver design and Opes-Prime featuring prominently on the bonnet.

"I am thrilled to have these guys around me and we're all really keen to ♛get on with the job and do well in the fir✃st round for the year," Kelly said. "I am with the same team and driving the same car that won Clipsal last year, so that is reassuring.

"We believe there are a few things that we can do a bit better and have already implemented those. We've𓆏 pretty much got our set-up nailed to be honest, and we've been quick here in the last few years. Adelaide's generally about being consistently quick through the race and staying out of trouble."

New team-mate Dumbrell debuts for the HSV Dealer Team this weekend driving the #16 car in new Autobarn livery and he said he couldn't be better prepared ಞfor the season🤪 ahead.

"I just can't wait to get out there and have a crack. I feel like I am as well prepared as I could be," he said. "It's been a whirlwind couple of months. Over the summer months when you generally relax and think about anything other th꧑an the upcoming season, all I could think about was driving for the Dealer Team thi♐s year.

"Friday's practice session can't come q𓂃uick eno꧅ugh!"