Team Red moving up, down south.

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

Five-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 the frontrunners this weekend, with Skaife noting that in terms of pace, the Holden Racing Team is really playing catch up.

"The car is okay but we're not quite there 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 translates into plenty around Symmons Plains.

"It will be difficult 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 order.

"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 to finish up today without any panel damage."