Top rookie keen to use home track advantage

MW Motorsport's Jayden Ojeda is hoping to pick up where he left off at the Adelaide season-opener as the Dunlop Super2 Series resumes this weekend at his long-time home track.

The 20-year-old from Penrith started his rookie year with finishes of ninth, fourth and fifth to leave Adelaide fifth in the points and as the lead rookie, ahead of five other newcomers.

Unfortunately Ojeda and the rest of the field were then forced to sit on the sidelines for nearly five months through no fault of their own due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

At least two rounds were scheduled to be run by this point, but instead the development class will return this weekend for the Truck Assist Sydney SuperSprint in Eastern Creek.

With a home track advantage, Ojeda is hoping to exceed expectations as he did in Adelaide, with a particular goal in mind for his local race.

"Adelaide was a really outstanding round for us, we put that into our pocket very happily," Ojeda told Supercars.com.

"The challenge now is keeping that position up the front, as well as trying to keep moving forward.

"The goal is to fight with those front bunch, so it's all about trying to pick up where we left off from, as obviously it's been a long time between runs, so it's going to be difficult.

"It would be good to come out as the leading rookie again, just to know we're on the front foot and where we're meant to be, but if we could hassle that top three bunch and maybe even take a top three result away from SMP, I think that would be great. 

"We're at a top level, so it's not like any of the other guys are slouches.

"It'll be tough but I think having that hometown advantage definitely works in my favour, it doesn't work in anyone else's, being the only driver from Sydney I believe.

"It's fair to say I know Eastern Creek like it's the back of my hand."

Prior to the season restart tomorrow, Ojeda had the chance to cut laps at Sydney Motorsport Park last Friday in his MWM Nissan Altima.

"It was good, it's been a fair while since Super2 has competed at SMP, so it was good for myself and the team to get familiar with everything again," he said.

"It was a bit like an off-season, everyone had to get used to working in tandem, along with us drivers getting our eye back in.

"It was a really productive day, I got a lot out of it myself and we tuned the car up, as obviously there's been a bit of development and set-up change throughout the last couple of months with the Matt White boys."

Ojeda has lived in Penrith – 20km west of Eastern Creek – all his life and has fond memories of SMP dating back to his childhood days.

"I was only very little at the time, but I think I remember one of the races I went to, I'm pretty sure Marcos Ambrose won the race, so it was a while ago," Ojeda added.

"I remember being on my Dad's shoulders on the start straight and Marcus got onto the podium and that was probably one of my fondest memories of Supercars at Eastern Creek, and that would've been probably my first time at the track.

"It's definitely been a part of my life growing up, so it'll be cool to go there now and get the opportunity to race a Supercar there."

The Dunlop Super2 and Super3 fields will combine this weekend to contest two 18-lap races, as part of the Truck Assist Sydney SuperSprint.