Braking News: Supercars silly season ramps up as another team change is confirmed

Which Supercars star will make his full-time return to racing? Who is headed to the US on a ‘networking’ mission? Check out the latest Supercars news.

Richie Stanaway will make a full-time return to Supercars after Grove Racing confirmed the New Zealander would replace the departing David Reynolds from next year.

After earlier announcing Bathurst winner Reynolds would leave the team at the end of the 2023 season, Grove announced Stanaway would partner young gun Matt Payne in an all-Kiwi line-up.

Stanaway has not raced full-time in Supercars since 2019, but will suit up as Shane van Gisbergen’s co-driver for Triple Eight in this year’s endurance races.

The 31-year-old impressed when he made a return to the Supercars fold to partner Greg Murphy in a wildcard at last year’s Bathurst 1000, qualifying fourth and finishing 11th.

“As we continue to build the race team, securing a driver of Richie’s calibre is extremely exciting, giving the team the opportunity to challenge for race wins and championships,” team owner Stephen Grove said.

“Richie’s experience and feedback will be great for the team to further develop moving forward.”

Stanaway, whose last full-time Supercars season was with Garry Rogers Motorsport four years ago, said he was excited to be back.

“I would like to thank Penrite Racing for the incredible opportunity to be a part of the team next year,” Stanaway said.

“I’ve been impressed by the direction the team has been heading in recent years and have been enjoying my time in the Gen3 era thus far so I am excited to see what we can achieve together.”

In the latest silly season moves, the Ford squad earlier announced it would not be renewing Reynolds’ contract for 2024.

Reynolds, 38, has been linked to a move to Team 18 in place of the off-contract Scott Pye, although the Camaro squad has yet to confirm who will partner veteran Mark Winterbottom for next season.

“I wish Dave all the best as he moves forward and thank him for his contribution to the team over the last three seasons,” Grove said.

Reynolds, who won at Mount Panorama in 2017, sits 16th in this year’s championship.

Team 18 boss Charlie Schwerkolt indicated before the round at Tailem Bend he was set to make a call on his driver line-up for 2024.

“Frosty’s locked away, and Scott’s contract is up at the moment, so we’re going through all our plans at the moment,” Schwerkolt said.

“Hopefully we’ll have some news soon.”

David Reynolds will part ways with Grove Racing at the end of the year.

MORE MOVES

Walkinshaw Andretti United has also announced it will part ways with Bathurst winner Nick Percat at the end of the season.

Hours after Grove Racing confirmed Reynolds’ exit, WAU said Percat would be departing the team after the season-ending Adelaide 500.

Amid speculation about Percat’s future, WAU co-driver Fabian Coulthard and Super2 driver Ryan Wood have both been linked to the seat, with 19-year-old Kiwi young gun Wood expected to get the nod.

The news of Percat’s departure comes after he achieved his best result for the year with his fourth-place finish in the final race at Tailem Bend.

Having started his Supercars career at the squad when it was the former Holden Racing Team, winning Bathurst as a rookie with Garth Tander in 2011, Percat rejoined WAU in 2022 to partner Chaz Mostert.

“We want to thank Nick for being a big part of our team for the past two seasons, but also his entire time with us over the journey,” team owner Ryan Walkinshaw said.

“Of course, we both hoped to achieve more together, but with four rounds remaining this year, including the Bathurst 1000, Sandown 500 and Adelaide 500, we are all pushing to finish on a high. Everyone here wishes him all the best for the future.”

The news of Percat’s departure comes after he achieved his best result for the year with his fourth-place finish in the final race at Tailem Bend.

But overall, it has been a tough 2023 campaign for Percat, who sits 21st in the championship standings.

“My time with the WAU family has come to an end and I wish we could have had the results we both wanted and expected,” Percat said.

“I have loved my time working alongside Chaz and it’s cool to say we will be lifelong friends. “To the team, thank you for the tireless effort and hours spent trying to unlock the speed from Car No. 2, Adelaide 500 is something I’ll never forget … looking forward to finishing the year with a bang.”

WAU said its replacement for Percat would be announced in “due course”.

BROWNED OFF

Will Brown has conceded he has a tough job ahead to get himself back into title contention this year after tumbling down the standings at Tailem Bend.

While his Erebus Motorsport teammate Brodie Kostecki swept all three race wins, Brown slipped from second to fourth in the championship after a tough weekend on track.

Brown suffered a costly DNF in the opening sprint race on Saturday and then finished 13th in both of Sunday’s races.

As he extended his series lead, Kostecki scored 305 points compared to Brown’s 88.

“It’s disappointing, we went into Sydney as the championship leader and now we’re 258 points off in one round,” Brown said.

“It’s a long way, it’s very disappointing, but it does make the enduros very important.

“Brodie having such a good weekend, nearly 300 points ahead, it is a very tough one.

“Hopefully we can catch up, but it’s going to be a very difficult one from here.”

Will Brown fell from second to fourth in the driver standings at Tailem Bend.

After a week when his switch to Triple Eight as Shane van Gisbergen’s replacement from 2024 was confirmed, Brown denied the off-track developments had been a distraction.

He said he remained focused on a strong finish for Erebus this season.

“I actually came in, I thought, more positive knowing that I had to do a good job for these guys for the rest of the year,” Brown said.

“And knowing where I was going next year, I thought we’re in a good head space and actually excited about it all.

“It doesn’t look like it came out that way, but it’s disappointing.

“Me and Brodie have been so close together all year and for him to clean sweep this weekend – he did an awesome job – but I really expected to be up there and to be able to battle him.

“I wanted to get through this year and have a really strong end of the year, the team (Erebus) has done such a good job.

“I will probably be excited in January 2024 when I can put that (Triple Eight) suit on, that will be exciting.

“But right now I’m concentrating on what I’m doing here.”

Brown’s first race crash started a tough weekend for the Coca-Cola Racing driver.

RACING RESUME

Tickford star Cam Waters joked he would be carrying his “resume in my back pocket” when he heads off on holiday to the United States this week.

While insisting his trip to the States ahead of next weekend’s NASCAR race at Daytona International Speedway was primarily for a personal break to enjoy “some beers” in the warmth, he did not rule out some racing networking.

Waters has previously expressed an interest in trying his hand at racing in the US.

“I plan on enjoying a few beers in the grandstands and enjoying the warm weather and having a bit of a holiday,” Waters said.

“The trip there earlier in the year was trying to get a gig and this one I’m taking my girlfriend over, she’s never been to America, and having a bit of fun.

“We’ll hang out with Ford and (sponsor) Monster (Energy) and all the people, but it’s more about a holiday.

“I’m sure I will have my resume in my back pocket, but I can’t confirm or deny that I will talk to people.”

Mustang driver Cameron Waters.

TICKFORD BOOST

Tickford Racing team principal Tim Edwards hopes his squad can get an uplift from a successful round at Tailem Bend.

The Ford squad had one of its best weekends for the year after Thomas Randle secured three podium finishes and Waters returned to the podium for the first time since round one in Newcastle.

Edwards said the round was a confidence booster for the team after a tough year.

“It has been a tough year, so it has been a bit of a drought for us,” Edwards said.

“We are used to being on the podium most weekends, so it has been tough for the team.

“This is a good uplift for the team, a good confidence booster.

“We are certainly not confident that the same will be repeated at other rounds, but certainly this weekend.

“It’s fantastic for Thomas, not only did he get his first podium, but he got his first, second and his third, so that – I am sure – will be a sign of things to come in the future.”