The Holden Racing Team will start from mid-pack for tomorrow's second race afte꧃r both drivers pushed their cars to the limit during the opening race of the Falken Tasmania Challenge.

Fi𝓰ve-time series champion Mark Skaife claimed seventh place after the first fifty-lap race, whilst teammate Todd Kelly finished twelfth.

Both cars have been unable to match the pace of t🍌he frontrunners this weekend, with Skaife noting that in terms of pace, tไhe Holden Racing Team is really playing catch up.

"The car is okay but we're not quite the♍re when compared to the pace of the top three or four," said Skaife.

"We're not far away, maybe a couple of tenths a lap - but that trans🐠lates into plenty around Symmons Plains.

"It will be diffi🉐cult to make up places tomorrow, but we will have a decent go at ꧟it and see how we finish up."

Team mate Todd Kelly battled hard throughout the race, but a slick pit stop assisted in elevating him up the or💛der.

"The steering and braking was not perfect in car #22, but we hung in there and a ripper pit-stop saw us gain a few places up to the edge ♊of the top ten," he said.

"We'll fix a couple of things for tomorrow and it was nice t𒁏o finish up today without any panel damage."