Despite reports of a soul-searching trip to Uluru, Ambrose revealed it was actually Quamby Bluff where he went to clear his head after withdrawing from his commitments to the championship he won twice a decade ago.

Launceston’s 38-year-old former NASCAR driver, who has already relocated his family to his home town and enrolled his two daughters into school here, said he took his driving replacement Scott Pye and DJR Team Penske engineers up the Deloraine climb to escape an intense week of media scrutiny and speculation.

‘‘It’s one of my favourite little hikes,’’ Ambrose told The Examiner from Symmons Plains where the V8 Supercars round was beginning without him.

‘‘We opened up their lungs and showed them a good view and it was a lot of fun. We picked a good day for it, got lucky with the weather and got there before the clouds set in.

‘‘They thought it was a really tough hike and I said there are harder ones, you’d better be ready for the next trip.’’

On a rainy, slippery day when Mark Winterbottom led the practice times and Craig Lowndes spent almost as long off the track as on it, Ambrose said his fellow Tasmanians had been accepting of his surprise decision.

‘‘It’s been a great response from the fans. Everyone has been very understanding and respectful of the situation.

‘‘It’s disappointing that I’m not out there at my home race in front of my fans who I really want to race for, but motor sport doesn’t wait for you.’’

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