PETER Adderton has begun talks for an all-new Bathurst 1000 driver line-up if his 2023 wildcard ambitions are approved.
Adderton has made no secret of the fact he wants to run Richie Stanaway in a solo capacity this season, particularly at the Boost Mobile-backed Gold Coast 500.
Stanaway, who made his Supercars comeback under Adderton’s watch last year, is unavailable for the Sandown 500 and Bathurst 1000 given he was snapped up in the off-season by Triple Eight Race Engineering to co-drive with Shane van Gisbergen.
For the first time, Adderton has now revealed his interest in pressing ahead with a Bathurst return this October without Stanaway.
“I would look at one of the young drivers who hasn’t got a ride right now,” he told V8 Sleuth.
“I would also look at potentially bringing someone internationally as well, someone who has got a very large profile.
“We would absolutely be interested in doing that, and in fact I have spoken to a few drivers, quite big calibre overseas drivers who would add a real positive spin to Bathurst and our team.
“So we would still do it; bring a young kid in and get someone internationally.”
Adderton agreed to terms with Triple Eight last year to purchase a Gen3 Camaro built by the Brisbane squad.
That car is not ready yet, but Adderton has grown frustrated with lingering uncertainty about whether he will actually be allowed to enter it, given there has been little in the way of confirmation regarding 2023 wildcard rules.
He’s also admitted to losing hope of winning the 26th and final Teams Racing Charter, which the Blanchard Racing Team has long been considered the favourite for.
“There’s no point having a car if you can’t race it, so that’s still to me the biggest hurdle we have,” said Adderton.
“On the wildcard side, we have been requesting to race wildcards, we have not had an answer back from Supercars because at the end of the day it is really left up to the teams and the Commission.”
An answer may be forthcoming within the week, however, courtesy of a meeting between Adderton’s Australian-based right-hand man Jason Haynes and Supercars chairman Barclay Nettlefold.
“I think Jason is going to meet with Barclay next week in Melbourne and the Supercars guys to try to work out what we can do,” Adderton noted.
Stanaway combined with Greg Murphy to place 11th in the 2022 Great Race.
