Craig Lowndes says there’s no place like Tasmania to return to the top of the V8 Supercars podium, even if he is returning to the scene of a racing crime.

At Symmons Plains, the veteran Red Bull Racing driver re-visits the site of his team’s biggest bust-up in recent history.

Last year, Lowndes was leading the first race ahead of team-mate Jamie Whincup before a reckless pass from the six-time champion nudged Lowndes into the grass out of the lead.

A dressing down from team boss Roland Dane followed, with Red Bull able to regroup and sweep the meeting, including Lowndes winning Sunday’s main race.

To rub salt into the wounds, Lowndes was forced to start the second race from the bottom of the field due to a rogue sticker on his Holden.

Lowndes has now consigned the clash to history, though hew conceded it was tough to take at the time.

“We’ve been together as team-mates now for nine years and that was the first altercation we’d had,” Lowndes said.

“It hasn’t been a bad track record.”

“Sunday’s race I was determined to make amends, both with the altercation with Jamie and a qualifying infringement.”

It hasn’t been smooth sailing for the three-time series champion since last year’s trip to the island state.

In the 12 months since, Lowndes has just one race victory.

Lowndes arrived in Tasmania last season as the championship leader, this year he sits sixth, calling his start to the season “just ok”.

But there’s a good explanation for that; settling into a relationship with his new engineer Grant McPherson.

“We’ve had reasonable pace … I thought we had a solid Clipsal (Adelaide round),” he said.

“Grant’s used to making changes on a Falcon but the (Melbourne) grand prix (round) was a good learning and understanding weekend.

“We need to find a bit more pace to get into the front end of the field.

“Especially here at Symmons, it’s going to be important to start the weekend at the front.”

Lowndes wants to improve on his one podium finish from the season-opening Clipsal 500 meet this weekend on the tour’s shortest circuit.

“That’s the aim for the weekend, that’s for sure,” he said.