New Zealand A1 Grand Prix driver Matt Halliday is confident he will shift back into single seater mode without any problems at this weekend's seventh round of the series in Durban.

Halliday has been driving a Porsche in the New Zealand GT3 Challenge Cup series during the seven-week break since the last A1 round in Dubai and believes being in race mode will be of benefit despite the major differences in the power and handling of the cars.

"The key is that I've been keeping sharp," Halliday said. "It seems like a long time since the last A1 round, but I haven't just been relaxing over the Christmas and New Year break. I've been involved in a good, tight competition and that will help in switching on here in South Africa."

Halliday, New Zealand's only driver at this weekend's round, is hugely excited by the challenges presented by the beachfront street circuit, the only street race in the 11-round A1GP Series.

"This is going to be a unique event and will require even more accuracy than usual given that there aren't the run-off areas you have at a traditional purpose-built track," he said.

"You have to be pin-point in steering clear of the Armco and the grip factor changes as the weekend moves on and more rubber is left on the road. Throw in the hot conditions and re-establishing your communication with the engineers and mechanics after the break and it's a weekend where there's a bit more emphasis on the driver.

"Being so near the beach in such a beautiful city makes this one of the most picturesque courses I've ever seen, but there'll be no time at all to take in the spectacular scenery! There's just too much work to do."

Set-up will be even more important than usual given the New Zealand team is taking receipt of a new engine after its initial Zytek-supplied offering ran up its maximum amount of kilometres.

A1 Team.NZL chief executive Bob McMurray says getting to grips with the new engine will be crucial if the team is to stay among the front-runners.

"We're proud of our effort to date," McMurray said. "The team has done wonders to be fifth in the championship with less than half the season remaining, but Kiwis are a competitive lot and we want more.

"We were disappointed Great Britain overtook us in Dubai and we would be chuffed to reel them back in this weekend whilst setting our sights on Brazil over the final five rounds."

McMurray said the team has relished having a decent break, particularly because of the tough schedule ahead.

"With Indonesia being re-scheduled for mid-February we now have four big meetings in seven weekends in widely different parts of the world. How we cope with the travel and the pressure will be vital in determining where we end up in the Series.

"We're all up for it and just can't wait to be back racing this weekend."