Far from resting on their laurels, both drivers and crew have worked hard to ensure that the lessons learned in this early part of the year are put to good use at the 3.4-kilometre Hamilton street circuit this weekend.
Racing against each other as team-mates for the first time this season, both Todd and Rick are keen to continue the progress up the order for the new team.
Both drivers are used to success throughout their careers - Todd the 2005 Bathurst 1000 winner and Rick a two-time Bathurst winner and the youngest-ever V8 Supercar champion.
Now the pair are seeking to rise towards the top of the V8 Supercar pack as part of their own new team, working full-time at the team's new Braeside workshop and putting in the necessary work to ensure that progress continues in the right direction.
A new qualifying format will be implemented for Hamilton, with the usual Saturday, elimination-style qualifying session and Top 10 Shootout to set the Saturday race grid and a second, 20 minute ‘all-in' qualifying session, held roughly one hour to Sunday's race, to decide the starting line-up for the second race of the weekend.
JACK DANIEL'S RACING QUOTEBOARD
Rick Kelly - #15 Jack Daniel's Racing Holden Commodore:
On the new qualifying format to be debuted in Hamilton:
"It definitely allows you to progress through the weekend a little bit better than the system we ran in Adelaide," said Rick Kelly.
"I'm a big believer in being able to move forward and progress throughout the weekend, so with that in mind, last year's qualifying was much better than what was they have got in place this year.
"I think the new structure is probably a little better.
"Qualifying on Sunday morning for Sunday's race definitely allows you to progress throughout the weekend and they've tried to make the session quite close to the race so you will leave the car in race trim for qualifying.
"It's a little better and hopefully we can make the most of that in New Zealand."
On the Hamilton street circuit:
"Last year was obviously the first event there," said Rick Kelly.
"As an event it's almost a smaller version of the Clipsal 500. The whole town gets right behind the event and for me I quite enjoyed it.
"Our pace there last year was quite good, being the first race we'd ever done there it was good to get second in the first race. A slow pit stop hindered our result for the rest of the weekend.
"Being with a new team this year, if we can get some good results and some good pace similar to last year we should be able to cement ourselves in the top 10.
On the progress of Kelly Racing after two events:
"The break has certainly allowed us to take a little bit of a breath between races and improve as a team," said Rick Kelly.
"I think that's what we needed to do. We're definitely at the point where we can take the cars to a race track and compete well.
"I think we need to move a little bit further forward so that we can aim for top five results and eventually race wins. The break has allowed us to move a little bit closer to that point.
"The big thing we need to do at the moment is to cement ourselves well and truly in the top 10 on points in the first couple of events and then move towards the top five around mid-year."
Todd Kelly - #7 Jack Daniel's Racing Holden Commodore:
"Hamilton is another great event and it's good to go into the first flyaway race of the season having had a little bit of a breather after the Grand Prix," said Todd Kelly.
"After those first two events of the season, we've learned a lot about our new Jack Daniel's Commodores and we've been able to sit back and have a really good think about how we can improve things and get them to go even better.
"We think we have the potential to go very well over there in New Zealand. The team is still relatively new but our expectations are high.
"We'll definitely be looking to be right up there in Hamilton and get a couple of strong finishes to lift ourselves up the order points-wise to where we believe we should be."
JACK DANIEL'S RACING DRIVERS AT HAMILTON 400:
Rick Kelly - #15 Jack Daniel's Racing Holden Commodore:
2008 Qualifying: Third
2008 Race One: Second
2008 Race Two: Sixth
2008 Race Three: Fourth
Todd Kelly - #7 Jack Daniel's Racing Holden Commodore:
2008 Qualifying: 19th
2008 Race One: Eighth
2008 Race Two: 19th
2008 Race Three: 15th
HAMILTON 400 DETAILS:
Circuit: Hamilton Street Circuit
Location: Hamilton, NZL
Circuit Length: 3.4 kilometres
Format: x2 59-lap races
2008 Polesitter: Steven Richards
2008 Race 1 Winner: Garth Tander
2008 Race 2 Winner: Garth Tander
2008 Race 3 Winner: Garth Tander
WEEKEND SCHEDULE
All times are local New Zealand Time
Friday 17 April
12:25pm - 1:00pm: Practice 1
1:15pm - 2:05pm: Practice 2
2:45pm - 3:35pm: Practice 3
Saturday 21 March
11:00am - 11:40am: Qualifying (for Race 1)
11:50am - 12:25pm: Top 10 Shootout
3:05pm: Race 1 (59 laps)
Sunday 22 March
1:00pm - 1:20pm: Qualifying (for Race 2)
2:35pm: Race 2 (59 laps)
TELEVISION SCHEDULE
Times subject to amendment - please check local guides.
Saturday March 21
2:00pm - 4:30pm
Sunday March 22
12:00pm - 3:00pm
