The 29-year-old has struggled to meet his own expectations this season after battling with a second-rate car.

Van Ginneken did not make any main races on either day of the Grand Annual Sprintcar Classic in Warrnambool last weekend.

But the optimistic racer is championing a change of fortune.

“We had a disappointing weekend at the grand annual,” Van Ginneken told The Standard yesterday. “I really struggled last year with the car I’m using at the moment.

“I got a new car but I wrecked it on Boxing Day so I’m back in the old car.

“That’s all I’ve got.”

At the Prelude to the Championships in Adelaide on Wednesday night, his car failed to fire once again in the hot laps.

Some quick work on the XXX chassis’ electronics had the machine sprinting once again.

“I just couldn’t get the car to start,” Van Ginneken said.

“So I missed the hot laps and the time trials which wasn’t good.

“By the time we got to the heats I was a already behind (in practice).”

However, the unflappable Van Ginneken put his head down in the C main, starting from 19th position on the grid.

The south-west spare parts interpreter shot from the back to finish seventh.

“Hopefully that means all of our bad luck is out of the way,” he said. “We’ve got the car right now.”

Tonight marks Van Ginneken’s second Australian Title appearance.

His plan for the two-day event is simple.

“I need to get some good results in the heats and ideally make the final (tonight),” he said.

“But I’d ultimately like to make the feature on Saturday night.”

Van Ginneken thanked Kelvin, Wendy and Anthony Boyle, of Boyle’s Livestock Transport, for providing fuel for the journey across the border. Trevor Anderson has also provided the transport.

Meanwhile, it was clear American import Jason Johnson was out to prove a point in the Prelude to the Championship on Wednesday night.

After failing to finish in the Classic on Sunday night, the USA47 started in the front row with Queensland’s Brent Aprile in the A-main of the prelude.

Johnson took line honours, while Aprile finished well back in 15th. Ryan Farrell, who also did not finish in the classic feature, was second.

Brooke Tatnell was third followed by David Murcott in fourth and Robbie Farr fifth.