Going into the fifth and final round of the championship at Sydney Motorsport Park, Anderson currently sits second in the private class and sixth overall.

It’s a position Anderson could never have imagined himself sitting in when he made his debut in the series back at Sandown in April.

“I would have laughed at you,” he said.

“In my first year I just wanted to get used to the car and see what happens.

“I thought I’d take a jump into the deep end and have a go at a V8 Supercar. We didn’t ever expect to be in a position where we would be challenging for the championship.

“We’re up there racing against guys with Bathurst 1000 experience. Taz Douglas has a Bathurst podium and Garry Jacobson’s also racing, and he’s leading the Dunlop Series.”

Anderson would require a lot to go in his favour to chase his down his class leader Jim Pollicina, who sits 112 points ahead, leaving the Bathurst driver focused this weekend on trying to hold down his second spot on the table.

“We’ll focus on trying to get a good qualifying result. You definitely want to be inside the top 10 where the driving’s a little cleaner and there’s less risky overtakes happening,” Anderson said.

Following a tough start at Sandown – where he didn’t finish the third and final race of the round – Anderson has been a picture of consistency in his 2008 Ford Falcon BF.

It’s the same car which Mark Winterbottom took to a runner-up finish in that year’s V8 Supercars Championship.

The Falcon has been in the hands of drivers such as David Russell, Luke Youlden and Jack Le Brocq and now Anderson’s been putting it to good use.

Anderson’s best round this season came at Queensland Raceway where he secured 70 points, which was good enough for fourth overall  that round.

That round helped set up his current spot on the ladder, where he sits on 193 points.

The man Anderson will be keeping an eye on Simon Emerzidis who is 43 points adrift.

It’s been an impressive debut for Anderson who came into the series on the back of a championship victory in Historic Touring Cars last year.

“Winning the championship in the Historics was great but this competition’s in a whole new league. At Phillip Island we were going around there just one second outside of Scotty McLaughlin’s lap record,” Anderson said.

“I’m thrilled at the speed we’ve been getting out of this car.”

Making the experience all the more satisfying for Anderson has been his family’s close involvement with the season and his Kenwood Homes entry.

“My brother-in-law Matt Negus is the engineer-mechanic. My old man is part of the pit crew and my wife, family and friends have also given me a lot of support this year,” he said.