Supercars news: Garth Tander quits Triple Eight Red Bull, opens door for Daniel Ricciardo switch
Garth Tander has sensationally split from Triple Eight, opening the door for a mouth-watering Daniel Ricciardo-Shane van Gisbergen partnership.
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Garth Tander has sensationally split from Triple Eight Race Engineering just two months after co-piloting the #97 Red Bull to Bathurst 1000 glory, opening the door for a mouth-watering Daniel Ricciardo-Shane van Gisbergen partnership next year.
Triple Eight confirmed 2007 Supercars champion and five-time Bathurst winner Tander had chosen not to renew his contract with the team beyond this season, bringing to an end a fruitful four-year partnership that included two wins at Mt Panorama.
Team principal Jamie Whincup thanked Tander for his “remarkable contribution to the team” before declaring the hunt was already on for a replacement to drive at the Sandown 500 and Bathurst 1000 next year.
Whincup added he would speak with “drivers both domestic and abroad to find the best fit to co-pilot #97 alongside SVG” and one name Australian motorsports fans would love to hear mentioned is of course, Ricciardo.
The eight-time Formula 1 Grand Prix winner does not have a seat on the F1 grid next season after splitting with McLaren.
He recently returned to Red Bull as a third driver for next year, where he will act largely in a marketing role for the team’s various motorsports arms, which of course includes the Whincup-led Red Bull Ampol Racing Supercars powerhouse.
News Corp understands Supercars immediately got in touch with Ricciardo’s management after his move to Red Bull was confirmed to discuss possible appearances at various events next season.
Ricciardo has publicly stated he wants to take a step back from Formula 1 next year and recently voiced his desire to ride a motorbike across the United States, as he tiptoes into a 12-month racing sabbatical.
But the 33 year old will no doubt be put to work by Red Bull as its major marketing piece next year and given his fan-favourite status in his home Australia it would be crazy to think he does not make an appearance Down Under in 2023.
Ricciardo has previously spoken of his desire to drive around Mt Panorama and twice sat in the seat of a Supercar – first at the helm of Whincup’s Sandman in 2016 and again in Rick Kelly’s Altima in 2019.
“Whether it’s a private test or the actual race, I do need to do it,” he told Supercars.com last year.
Now with Tander out, and Ricciardo back at Red Bull in a back seat capacity, the stars have aligned for the Honey Badger to finally get his wish.
Meanwhile, Penrite Racing confirmed Holden great Tander had controversially swapped allegiances and would race for the Blue Oval next year after signing a multi-year deal to be a co-driver at the Melbourne Ford outfit, Grove Racing.
It means Tander will race in a Mustang for the 2023 enduro events at Sandown and Bathurst, having previously piloted a Holden to five famous wins at Mt Panorama including the famous brand’s swan song earlier this year.
“I’ve been fortunate enough to work in some great race teams in Supercars,” Tander said.
“What I have seen Stephen and Brenton Grove achieve in a very short time frame is seriously impressive.
“When they asked me to be part of what they are building for the future, not only as a driver, but also to help mentor Matt Payne (2023 rookie) who has already proven to be an immense talent and also help guide the Grove Junior Team it was something that grabbed my attention.
“I have worked closely with many within the team in the past, having worked with Alistair McVean, David Cauchi and Grant McPherson already, as well as a teammate to Dave Reynolds way back when he was a little tacker. Something big is being built here and I am honoured to be part of it.
“With the imminent arrival of Gen3 coming in 2023, I am excited to get started and help the team wherever I can.
“I would also like to thank everyone at Triple 8 Race Engineering for the last 4 years. To have the opportunity to win Bathurst in 2020 and 2022, with SVG, added another chapter to my career and that’s something I am very grateful for.”
Tander’s defection will shake up the Bathurst co-driver market even before the dust has settled on the 2022 season.
The team said Tander would support Kiwi rookie Matthew Layne in his debut season, although this is a chance he teams up with 2017 King of the Mountain David Reynolds for a tilt at the 2023 Bathurst 1000.
As for Triple Eight, the seat alongside two-time reigning Supercars champion van Gisbergen will be the hottest property on the market entering 2023.
If not Ricciardo, Whincup will likely have his pick of the field. That could well be himself, given he partnered Broc Feeney to a fifth-place finish at Bathurst earlier this year.
Supercars legend Craig Lowndes is another option, given he and recently-crowned Super2 champion Declan Fraser took Triple Eight’s wildcard entry to a best-ever eighth-place finish in the Great Race.
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Originally published as Supercars news: Garth Tander quits Triple Eight Red Bull, opens door for Daniel Ricciardo switch
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