The Formula 3 series will visit Bathurst as part of the Bathurst Motor Festival and they have a history of quick times over the 6.213 kilometre circuit since making their debut in 2012.

Prior to this year’s Bathurst 12 Hour, when Shane van Gisbergen set the current record lap of two minutes, 3.8506 seconds, it was a Formula 3 driver in Chris Gilmour who held the benchmark time.

During last year’s practice for the Bathurst Motor Festival, the leading Formula 3 car driver did a 2:03.2396.

Now the Bathurst track has been resurfaced and with Hodge finding good speed, a new record is very much a possibility.

A Formula 3 rookie, Hodge drives a Mygale M11 Mercedes Benz for Team BRM and is currently leading the championship.

Though he will drive a Formula 3 vehicle at Bathurst for the first time come Friday, his team have been to Mount Panorama before and know what kind of set up works best on the famous track.

“Having been to Bathurst before is a massive, massive leg-up at the end of the day. It’s the same as any track you have been to before, it certainly helps with your set-up,” Team BRM manager Mark Rundle said.

“Bathurst is longer than most of the other tracks we compete at, but other than that there is no real difference. We treat Bathurst as we would any other track and since they have resurfaced it I’d expect to see some very quick times.

“This year, in both rounds so far, the old track records have been smashed and last year we would have got the record there [at Bathurst] but it was wet.

“I can’t see how they won’t get it this year. Simon broke the records at both the other tracks and at Sandown, which is only a 2.4 kilometre track; he beat the old record by a second.

“Bathurst is six kilometres, so if you look at a similar type of performance, there will be a new record ... I think a 2:02 is very do-able, certainly 2:03s.”

The Adelaide-based team have won the last three Formula 3 titles and their strong record in wings and slicks racing has continued this year.

Hodge has been impressive in his debut season thus far. He topped the time set in each practice session and qualifying at Clipsal in round one before going on to win all three races.

In round two at Sandown his name once more sat on top of the practice and qualifying lists. Though he could not replicate his opening round efforts, second, fourth and third placings kept him in the championship lead.

Teenager Chris Anthony is another Team BRM rookie and steers the Dallara F304 with which Tim Macrow won last year’s championship. He is currently third overall.

Queenslander John Magro is the experienced man on the team, boasting more than 30 podiums in the series. He placed second and fifth in the two races at Bathurst in 2013 and this year will tackle the Mount in a new Dallara F307.

“John has raced at Bathurst the last couple of years for us, Simon has driven there before in Formula Ford and Chris has never driven at Bathurst before,” Rundle said.

“It is a fair mix of experience there, but they are all looking forward to coming to Bathurst because it is a great track.”

Hodge will arrive in Bathurst with a slim three-point lead in the series over Ben Gersekowski, but he and his BRM team-mates will be looking to use the unique Mount Panorama format to strengthen their championship claims.

There will be only two 35-minute races – one on Saturday, the other on Sunday – at Bathurst but they offer a larger points weighting than usual.

Rundle would love to see his three-man outfit fill the podium positions both days.

“There is no reason why we can’t get all three guys on the podium; they are currently first, third and fourth in the championships,” he said.

“It’s going very well for the team so far this season. I am very happy with the guys that we have got.”

The Formula 3 cars will be on the track for the first time on Friday at 8.50am.