Emanuel (Mani) Kafantaris and his team have had a year to prepare their car for the six-day event.

"For the past eight years my team and I have been racing and promoting Port Macquarie and the different businesses here," he said.

Mr Kafantaris started off-road racing 16 years ago as a young apprentice when his colleague and good friend invited him to a race.

"I just fell in love with it after that. Basically off-road racing is a timed event where people from all over Australia come together to race their machines," he said.

"The other side of it is we get to travel around and promote our town and businesses within, we have six to promote this time around."

Mr Kafantaris had a taste of success in 2007 and 2009 where he and his team won championships.

"For 365 days myself and our team have changed the whole car to suit this race," he said.

"I am confident, I've been doing this for a long time.

"I'm also extremely lucky to have the most professional team without being a professional racer."

The nine-man team has six full on days ahead, with hopes of winning.

"We also just want to thank all of our sponsors in Port Macquarie, everyone has been so generous and it's good to see businesses taking the good, old-fashioned approach to helping out," Mr Kafantaris said.

"Everyone's always happy to help out in any way they can to give back to the small country community."

laini.kirkman@fairfaxmedia.com.au