The 2002 Konica V8 Supercar Series marks the third season of this exciting driver and team development category. Consisting of five rounds this year: March 31 Wakefield Park (NSW), May 5 Phillip Island (Vic), June 16 Oran Park (NSW), July 7 Winton (Vic) and August 4 Mallala (SA), the racing is set to be fierce, with all competitors agreeing on one point, the identity of the man to beat.

"I don't think it will be as easy as everyone thinks," says 2002 season favourite Paul Dumbrell, whose strong runner-up performance last season has made him the driver with the best credentials to win this season.

"We have set up an entirely new team and, as I learned last season, the Konica Series is no walk in the park. The drivers and teams are super-competitive and the racing is tough - there is no doubt about that."

For 40-year-old Lubrimax/Kitome Konica Series Team driver Terry Wyhoon, the switch from his trusty VS Commodore to an ex-DJR EL Falcon some six years its junior is a move designed to make the ex-Super Speedway star driver more competitive in 2002.

"I don't think that the Konica Series will get any easier this season in terms of competitiveness, but it is good to see less of the Level One team involvement and a return to what this series was all about when it was created.

"The Konica Series is about being able to compete in V8 Supercars on a relatively level playing field dependent on your level of sponsorship and that's what attracted me to it. When you consider the calibre of the teams that were involved last season and our result of 7th overall, it wasn't at all bad, and I think with our new Falcon we can be even more competitive this season."

Inaugural Konica V8 Supercar season (2000) Runner-Up, Rookie of the Year and 100 per cent podium finisher Matthew White is set to return to the series in 2002. This time he will be armed with the ex-NRC Racing (Dale Brede) VT Commodore, one of the fastest non-level one supported cars of the 2001 season.

At 28 years of age and with some serious Shell Championship Series mileage accrued last season, White is set to present the toughest challenge to Dumbrell, Michael Simpson and Craig Harris/Dale Brede this year.

"It will be a tough series compared to the first one. The beauty of the 2000 series was that everyone was starting from zero, but that is no longer the case, the pace being set at Konica rounds now is comparable to the main game.

"At least five teams will be in the hunt to win each round, if not more. It is looking like being a fast paced battle from round one, rather than a gradual increase in pace at each round, which is what happened in 2000," White said.

Craig Harris, 36, returns fielding a brand new Castrol AU Falcon for himself, with his 2001 car being fully rebuilt for one of the 2001 season's fastest drivers, Dale Brede. Much is expected from both drivers this season after a number of tough breaks last year.

"We have completed two tests with Dale and I am very excited about his prospects. I would be surprised if he isn't one of the drivers on the podium at every round.

"With the work the team has done I hope to be more competitive in my new Falcon and I believe that this third year of the series will see it become even more competitive again. The speeds our guys are achieving will see us move from tail end Shell Series times to top 10 to 15 lap times on a consistent basis."

One of the fastest cars of the 2001 field (Simpson Racing EL Falcon) returns this season in the hands of newlywed 28-year-old Queenslander Michael Simpson. There is no doubt that when the setup is right and with luck on his side, Simpson can present an unbeatable package in the Konica Series.

"I will benefit from the experience I gained with the car and the circuits last season. I have no doubt we can be stronger this season and for good luck I have changed the colour scheme of the car back to its original blue - I don't want a repeat of the horrid run I endured last season, I'm superstitious like that.

"The new Dunlop tyres should have some excellent pace in them and this should make the series even more competitive. Paul Dumbrell is going to be the man to beat, Matthew White, Dale Brede, Craig Harris, Kevin Mundy and a number of others are going to be tough competitors in 2002."

Other competitors who will be making their mark on the series include regular top 10 competitor Gary Holt, Bill Attard, Luke Sieders, Mal Rose, Eddie Albenica, Ric Shaw, Ross Halliday, Robert Smith, Rod Salmon, Wayne Wakefield, Alan Heath and many others.

V8 Supercar fans had better prepare for another fantastic year of Konica Series racing across the eastern seaboard in 2002.