Rhys Pinter knows to make the most of his opportunities.
As a teenager knocking on the door of a Sydney Swans reserves call up, Pinter looked set for a bright future in football until his playing days were brought to an abrupt end.
A knee to the side of the head during pre-season training with the Tuggeranong Hawks became a career-ending head injury when doctors found a brain haemorrhage.
The injury cleary didn't effect the risk-taking section of his brain because with his football days done the Canberran decided to take up motor sport.
After building a car with his father in 2012 Pinter began racing competitively and just three years later was crowned the Australian 1600 Cup champion.
Pinter saved every penny to compete as often as possible and last year raced internationally for the first time in the British Rally Championships.
In his fifth international rally the 24-year-old public servant is gunning for victory in front of family and friends at the National Capital Rally this weekend.
Canberra will host the FIA Asia-Pacific Championship and Australian Rally Championship with Pinter hoping for a career-best finish to launch his season.
"The plan is start my season well at home with this event then get some more international rallies in Asia-Pacific or Europe later this season," Pinter said.
"I've got so much home support from friends and family who are coming out this weekend, so to get a top result in front of them would be really special.
"My co-driver Phil Hall has made the trip from the UK. We've competed together in Australia and Europe, it's an interesting relationship being from other sides of the world but it's really cool to have him here."
The huge expenses of the sport have restricted Pinter's ability to race and the young gun knows he has to make the most of every opportunity behind the wheel.
"I've worked plenty of overtime and mum and dad have been a huge support but I've been fortunate enough to pick up JDH Capital as a sponsor this year," Pinter said.
"We had a friendly chat and basically they saw my results and the effort I went to getting myself to Europe last year.
"I threw everything but the kitchen sink to get there and we just literally ran out of money at the end of the year but they said we've got to give you another crack, so to be back in the car and racing at home is pretty special."
The NCR will host a ceremonial start on Burbury Street at 4pm on Friday so members of the public can meet competitors before racing gets underway on Saturday.
