Kelly needs to convert in Perth

Putting runs on the board will be Todd Kelly’s focus at the Perth 400.

The V8 Supercars head to Barbagallo Raceway for the May 16-18 race meeting, and Kelly is determined to improve on his 2014 finishing results at the unique and abrasive 2.42km circuit.

The Perth 400 reverts back to the usual SuperSprint format, with three 20-minute practice sessions on Friday before two qualifying sessions and two races on Saturday, qualifying and the valuable 200km run on Sunday. All of the weekend's racing will be completed on the soft Dunlop tyre, with eight sets allocated to use over the three days. 

Kelly and his Jack Daniel's Racing crew know the importance of starting the weekend on the right foot.

"A lot of pre-event planning into the (practice) session structures, to make sure we land on a good setup for the weekend,” Kelly said.

"All in all, at the last event (in New Zealand) qualifying wasn't too bad, as I had three top 10 runs, but I didn't manage to turn any of those into a reasonable race result.

"So that's going to be the focus for Perth, to again qualify in the top 10, but more importantly really focus on converting that into better race results.”

Across the four runs at the ITM 500 Auckland, Kelly managed to pilot his #7 Nissan Altima to qualify ninth for three for the four races – but his best finish was 13th in Race 11, before an unfortunate 24th in the final and more valuable 200km sprint after a costly drive-through penalty for pit lane speeding.

The 34-year old hopes to improve on those results in the West, where he has previously finished on the podium, having recorded two second-place results there in his career – in 2003 for Holden Racing Team and in 2009 with Jack Daniel’s Racing.

"Barbagallo is a very unique circuit, very low grip and it takes a bit of a different setup and driving style to the circuits we have been to this year," he explained.

"I can't wait to get there, it's a track I really enjoy, and if you make any mistakes there you spend the race watching on from the sand traps!

"It's one of those places that you have to push really hard, but you have to be smart about where you do it, especially in the races."

Brother and teammate Rick emphasised the impact the circuit's unique surface could have on driving style.

"From a driver's point of view, the track is quite different,” the #15 racer said.

"We've just come from a really exciting track in New Zealand, that you have to push the car around, and it's got a lot of high speed stuff.

"You get to Perth, and it's quite a slippery surface that promotes a very different style of driving, to more of a smooth style.”

Tickets are available for the May 16-18 event at Barbagallo Raceway now.