The 39-year-old Launceston driver’s return to V8 Supercars this year with DJR Team Penske after a nine-year NASCAR stint has not been as smooth as expected as he seeks to rediscover the form that took him to successive championship titles in 2003-04.

But he is looking forward to getting behind the wheel of their X Box Ford FG X as co-driver to Scott Pye in the iconic race, where his best result was fourth in 2004 and his last foray in 2005 ended in a dramatic on-track altercation with Greg Murphy after the pair collided heading into the Cutting.

‘‘We arrived Wednesday and walked the track and it is  in great condition and it’s a fantastic race and I’m looking forward to it,’’ Ambrose said.

‘‘I’ve had five races at Bathurst and come up short, but that being said you have to be in the race to be a contender, and we are certainly that this year.

‘‘Our team hasn’t made the podium yet this year, so to ask if we are going to do that this weekend will be tough, but we will be doing our best to try to win, and that’s the goal.’’

Despite a disappointing year that  saw him vacate the lead driver’s seat for Pye after just one round of the championship, Ambrose made a much-anticipated return in the first of the endurance events at last month’s Sandown 500 and is hoping that DJR Team Penske can push for a podium result at Bathurst.

‘‘It is Australia’s biggest race so it’s great to be part of it, and it’s racing at one of the classic race tracks in the world,’’ he said.

 ‘‘So it is a great Australian sporting day, and every time you get the chance to race at Bathurst you should relish it for what it is, because it is just a great day.

‘‘To be successful you cannot afford to make mistakes, so you need to have a trouble-free day and you need to be consistent all day. The weather can change significantly during the race, which affects track conditions as well – you have to get the car really balanced and easy to drive and just be trouble-free.

‘‘It’s about survival for the first three quarters of the race and then get yourself into a position to take advantage of it over the last 30 or 40 laps.’’