Taking on the beast that is Mount Panorama, Best finished the opening round of the 2021 Super2 Series in third place, before being elevated into second on the Championship leader board after Triple Eight driver Broc Feeney was penalised post-race.
Returning home to Benalla on Monday, Best said he was stoked with how the round came together.
“It's definitely the way you want to start the campaign, coming out with a podium finish in a new car and team,” Best said.
“Our qualifying performances weren't there, but our race pace was and we move forward with that.”
Qualifying in eighth and sixth for races on Saturday and Sunday, Best inched his way closer to the front of the pack in each race to cross the line in fourth both times.
A different environment awaited Best in the season opener, with the teen racing with new team Tickford Racing for the first time since crossing from MW Motorsport in the offseason.
It was also his first time back in a Ford - the Falcon FGX - after racing in the Nissan Altima L33 last season.
“It was pretty fantastic, the car ran flawlessly, and the team, it almost felt like we'd worked together before,” Best said.
With a May home round at Winton Motor Raceway next of the cards for Best, further improvement cleaning up his qualifying races should see Best make a bid to challenge for consistent top three finishes this year.
“Definitely if we can get qualifying right, we should be right up at the pointy end,” Best said.
“I definitely think we’re going to be competitive this year and if we can be within top three in the championship come Gold Coast, we'll be really competitive.”
Best thanked his sponsors Best Leisure, Elite Brake Mechanical and Metroll Build Supplies for their support during the weekend.
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