A new V8 Supercars season and revised cars bring the promise of a different result for Mark Winterbottom.

Nine years with the factory Ford team and Winterbottom has never dropped out of the tour’s top five – but never claimed a championship.

Winterbottom has proved he belongs at elite level and, armed with the new Ford Falcon FG X, perhaps 2015 could be the year he wins an elusive title in the company’s last campaign.

Hope springs eternal and there’s never more hope than at the start of a season.

“At this point we’re all equal championship leader,” Winterbottom told AAP.

“Everyone’s confident, we all think we can win it.”

Ahead of the season-starting Clipsall 500 meet in Adelaide, “Frosty” is relishing the championship reset.

After leading the 2014 championship as late as August, Winterbottom fell away dramatically to finish third.

He took off for a family holiday overseas within days and returned with a better mindset and vehicle.

At the Sydney test event earlier in February, teammate Chaz Mostert took the Falcon to the top of the timing charts, with Winterbottom in fourth.

From his limited experience so far, Winterbottom is a fan.

“Eastern Creek has always been a really tough track for us so to be first and fourth was really promising,” he said.

“What it does in Adelaide is a bit unknown but so far, so good.”

Winterbottom said an improvement in one key area could help him jump out of the blocks in Friday’s practice and qualifying around the Adelaide street circuit.

“The car has the same chassis, it’s got a completely different aero package,” he said.

“That’s helped our braking, which was my biggest deficient area the last few years.

“It’s going to help passing, whereas before you came (into turns) a little out of shape, now it’s more stable.

“If you race better and pass better, it’s got to help.”