BRAD Jones has given the strongest indication yet that he plans to take an unchanged driver line-up into the 2023 Repco Supercars Championship.
Brad Jones Racing experienced a double change in its lead garage last off-season, with Nick Percat and Todd Hazelwood departing, and Andre Heimgartner and Bryce Fullwood arriving in their place.
After a tough start to the year, BJR has become a regular frontrunner courtesy of Heimgartner.
The #8 R&J Batteries Holden driver has two podiums this year and had been on a 12-race streak of top 10 finishes before being caught up in a brutal startline shunt with Thomas Randle at Tailem Bend.
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Promisingly, Fullwood has emerged from a slump to now be running far closer to Heimgartner; he was the Albury squad’s top qualifier for both Sunday races at The Bend.
Macauley Jones has been on a solid run and is within 30 points of 17th-placed Jack Le Brocq in the championship, while Jack Smith is down in 24th overall.
Brad Jones told V8 Sleuth he’s “not expecting any changes” to his full-time driver roster before the Gen3 era begins.
Pressed on the likelihood of fielding the same quartet in 2023, he replied: “I’d say it’s definitely a strong possibility.”
The #4 SCT Logistics entry is attached to a separate Teams Racing Charter owned by the Smith family, who may assess the market as per usual protocol, but generally seem happy in the BJR camp.
As for 2019 Super2 title winner Fullwood, Jones spoke enthusiastically.
“I think he is doing a great job,” he said.
“I mean, it was always going to be difficult going to a new team and starting again but he is doing a good job.
“Honestly, he is running around where I expected him to and I’m very happy with the potential growth I see in him.
“I’m hoping he’ll be here for a number of years.”
Between rounds, BJR has been busily preparing its race-winning spare chassis for Heimgartner to drive at Sandown.
The Sandown SuperSprint will be held across August 19-21, representing Round 9 of the season.
