Well, as much as I'd love to tell you that I won Bathurst this year, I'm afraid it didn't quite turn out that way!

The actual lead-up was great. The car was good straight out of the truck and we only had to make slight adjustments as the weekend went. Qualifying was a good start, the team gave me a great car and I went as fast around The Mountain as I ever have - a 2m09.1s good enough for 16th, only a smidgeon out of the Top 10 shootout.

Then it was race day. Most people only see the telecast from 10am but the boys and I were up at 5am and ready to get stuck into it. This year was the first time I'd been in the car to start the race since I debuted in 1999 and the nerves were worse than for any other race. We were up towards the front with a strong and proven car so there was a bit of pressure on.

It's no secret that this year I haven't been as far up the front as I expected, and it's easy to get down on yourself. But if you're going to go quick anywhere and remind people what you can do, then Bathurst is the place to have it happen.

To take away something out of the weekend, Tomas Mezera and I had the #8 Castrol Commodore really cranking when it came time for the race. We were in a genuine fourth spot after we'd both had good strong opening stints and then I had an altercation with a backmarker at the Chase.

It bent the steering arm but I tried to press on, but that was no good and we had to stop and get it sorted, dropping a bunch of laps. The boys did a great job to get the car out there and running again. It was 100 per cent after the repair and we showed our potential again but by then any chance of a top six result had gone. I genuinely reckon that was where we could have been at the end of 161 laps.

Tomas was great to drive with and I could actually understand him! He's got a great sense of humour and I reckon he would have needed it after the moment he had on pit straight when a car pulled out and he had to veer to the left, speedway-style, to avoid contact. I reckon he's been taking notes from Garry Rush ...

And his save after a spin through the Esses was just as impressive!

Away from the track, it's still a busy time even though the racing season is starting to wind down. There's been plenty of Autobarn store visits since I've signed up with them so that has meant spending a lot of time with none other than Craig Lowndes, who also has a deal with them.

The boys don't get any time to relax either because it's off to Indy, New Zealand and then Eastern Creek for us. Hopefully we'll have our second VY Holden up and running for that last round in Sydney and I can get in and see what sort of a rocket Richo has been able to play with.

But even though you, the fans, have only a few more chances to see us race in 2003, make sure you pop by and say hi at a race. It's great to have lots of fan support and have a chat. It's what this game is all about. - Paul