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Guaranteed warm weather is just one of the attractions, with Marshall confident that the IRWIN Racing Ford Falcon can finish in the top-half of the field.

“I really like Darwin and the Hidden Valley layout,” said Marshall.

“A couple of race meetings back we qualified in the top-20 and finished just outside the top-half of the field. Sandown was not as good, but importantly we know that we can get back on the pace and Darwin is the perfect place to prove that.

“We have to hit the track running in Friday practice. Then we can really attack qualifying. If you start further up the order you have every right to go even better in the races.

“Darwin could prove to be our best race of the first half of the year.”

IRWIN Racing Lead Engineer Greg Foletta is looking forward to Darwin.

“We had a very good run in Perth and in many ways Darwin is a similar type of circuit,” said Foletta.

“Importantly we are sure that we can be better than Perth and that has us very excited going to Hidden Valley.

“Marcus does have experience of the circuit both in V8s and other categories. So we can really work together throughout practice to ensure we have a strong package for qualifying.

“We are very happy with our race package and as Marcus said we can feel confident of getting a very good result.”

Marshall and the IRWIN Racing team hit the track for practice on Friday, ahead of qualifying and the opening 42-lap race on Saturday. Sunday concludes the weekend with another two 42-lap races.

2008 V8 Supercar Championship Series
Round 6, SKYCITY Triple Crown, Hidden Valley Raceway, Darwin, NT

Championship points after 5 of 14 rounds
1. Mark Winterbottom 1124
2. Garth Tander 1072
3. Jamie Whincup 1062
4. Rick Kelly 1028
5. Craig Lowndes 897
6. Steve Richards 839
7. James Courtney 811
8. Lee Holdsworth 760
9. Will Davison 752
10.Todd Kelly 726
24. Marcus Marshall 378

Weekend Schedule
Friday 4 July
12:50pm – 1:20pm – Practice (Part 1)
1:25pm – 1:55pm – Practice (Part 2)
2:35pm – 3:50pm – Practice (Part 3)
Saturday 5 July
11:30am – 11:25am – Qualifying
3:00pm – Race One (42 laps)
Sunday 6 July
11:30pm – Race Two (42 laps)
3:00pm – Race Three (42 laps)
*All times AEST

V8 SUPERCARS ON TV
*All programs are shown on Channel 7
! Saturday 5 July
2:00pm – 5:30pm (Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth)
Sunday 6 July
1:00pm – 5:30pm (Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth)
*Times subject to change. Check local guides

Facts and Figures
Track History
Constructed in the late 1990’s Darwin’s Hidden Valley Raceway has been continually improved over the past nine years. Featuring a 1.1km main straight the circuit is unique in its layout and is continually developing as one of the most popular rounds of the V8 Supercar Championship.
Track Location: Hidden Valley Road, Berrimah, NT
Circuit length: 2.9km
Circuit direction: Anti-clockwise
Average speed: 151 km/h
Maximum speed: 265 km/h
Current Qualifying Lap Record: Jason Bright, Holden Commodore VX, 1m07.8546s, 2002
Current Race Lap Record: Jason Bright, Ford Falcon AU, 1m09.0149s, 1999

Previous Hidden Valley Round Winners
1998 Russell Ingall Holden Commodore VT
1999 Jason Bright Ford Falcon AU
2000 Mark Skaife Holden Commodore VT
2001 Marcos Ambrose Ford Falcon AU
2002 Mark Skaife Holden Commodore VX
2003 Marcos Ambrose Ford Falcon BA
2004 Todd Kelly Holden Commodore VY
2005 Todd Kelly Holden Commodore VZ
2006 Craig Lowndes Ford Falcon BA
2007 Craig Lowndes Ford Falcon BF

Previous Hidden Valley Pole Position Winners
1998 Jason Bright Ford Falcon EL
1999 Glenn Seton ! Ford Falcon AU
2000 Craig Lowndes Holden Commodore VT
2001 Mark Skaife Holden Commodore VX
2002 Jason Bright Holden Commodore VX
2003 Mark Skaife Holden Commodore VY
2004 Mark Skaife Holden Commodore VY
2005 Mark Skaife Holden Commodore VZ
2006 Jason Bright Ford Falcon BA
2007 Rick Kelly Holden Commodore VE