Dexion ready for season start.

Dexion Racing has completed its first pre-season test ahead of the new V8 Supercar Development Series season, with the teams focus now firmly fixed on the opening race of the season at Adelaide next weekend.

Last weeks test at Winton Raceway was the first time the team had used the ex Anthony Tratt Ford Falcon BA that it will use in 2005, and driver Tony Evangelou admitted that, despite some initial teething problems, he was hopeful that the car will be able to challenge for a top ten finish when it takes to the track for its first race.

"The car didn't go too bad," he said. "Straight out of the truck it was a bit of a handful. It's really difficult to tell how we'll fare against the front-runners because we've got no data to go against. Not only is it a new car to us, but the new Development Series rules make it a complete unknown.

"The lap times that we did at Winton were not record-breaking, but its early days yet. The engine that we used has just been pulled off the dyno. It was lacking a bit of power but the boys tell me that we've been able to peg back some power.

"Compared to our former AU, the base car is better. The 'turn in' of the BA is so much better and I could tell that straight away. Now it's a case of finding the correct balance between the front of the car and the rear.

"We are still aiming for a top ten finish [in Adelaide]. We know the car needs improvement. If we don't have the qualifying speed, we want to make sure we have good race pace. It's going to be a long championship"

Team manager David Moulden echoed Evangelou's prediction, although he admitted that he was expecting a tough season of competition in 2005.

"I've never seen the competition in the Development Series be so tough," he said. "The top ten is our aim, but deep down we are hoping that we can be higher than that. There are some well equipped teams in the field, which has its positives and negatives. If we get a good result, we know we'll have earnt it."

Dexion has also announced that Puma has become the latest sponsor for the team for the 2005 season.