Driving out of pit lane and onto the hallowed roads of Mount Panorama, Mark Winterbottom has more belief in himself than ever.

In the paddock, fans are chasing for a signature on posters with his photo and the title `2013 Bathurst Champion’.

His Ford Performance Racing team are walking around the garage with an extra bounce in their step.

“You’re constantly reminded,” said Winterbottom of his maiden Bathurst victory.

“It definitely pumps the tyres up a bit.

“It’s nice to have won it, you’ve got confidence. It’s something you can’t buy – you earn it.

“And this place rewards confidence.

“When you’re driving around with your chest out, it rewards you.

“But it can punish you if you get too ahead of yourself.”

No matter which of the 26 V8 Supercars you’re driving, Winterbottom insists there’s always pressure to perform at Bathurst.

He, though, is arguably under more pressure than most.

A recent run of poor results forced him to relinquish his championship lead to Holden rival Jamie Whincup and slip to third on the overall standings.

He hasn’t finished in the top five in his past 10 races and has lost his 2013-winning co-driver Steven Richards. He’s been replaced by Steve Owen.

It marks just the second time in the last seven years that the reigning Bathurst champions have not paired together to defend their crown.

Whincup and his Red Bull Racing teammate Craig Lowndes have been installed as race favourites, although Holden Racing Team (HRT) pair James Courtney and Garth Tander aren’t too far behind.

The quartet flexed their muscle at last month’s Sandown 500, the traditional Bathurst warm-up race, locking out the top four places.

Winterbottom though, doesn’t believe it’s simply a race for favourites, and given the races proclivity for strange scenarios unfolding, he is refusing to talk himself up in terms of going back-to-back, something no driver has done since Lowndes and Whincup back in 07-08.

“It’s like picking the Melbourne Cup – the smokey always can come home,” Winterbottom said.

“There’s been a lot of talk of HRT; they’ve been definitely talking themselves up. But they’re going quite good, so they’re confident from their results coming in.

“You never ever talk your chances up at Bathurst, because as soon as you think you’re confident it’ll turn around and bite you really hard.

“Bathurst is Bathurst. Anything can happen.”