BRAD Jones Racing recruit Declan Fraser is hungry to make his 2023 nightmare a distant memory by capitalising on a Supercars enduro co-drive with Andre Heimgartner.
Fraser got his first laps in the R&J Batteries #8 Camaro during the week at Winton and was immediately upbeat about the road ahead.
Heimgartner has been a standout since joining BJR ahead of the 2022 season and last year collected six podiums.
The one blemish for the Kiwi has been the Bathurst 1000, having walked away from the past three editions of the Great Race without recording a single point – and that’s where Fraser is set to come in handy.
“I look at what Andre was able to achieve with this team last year with the podiums and the pace that he had, I think it’s a really big confidence boost for me because I know right now at this stage in my career, what I need the most is a result,” Fraser told V8 Sleuth.
“I know that coming to this team, I have probably got the best opportunity to get a result at Sandown and Bathurst.”
The 2022 Super2 champion was a relatively late call-up to the main game last year, winning a seat in the fourth Tickford Racing Mustang at Jake Kostecki’s expense.
A difficult season ensued, Fraser finishing 24th in the points and losing his seat as Tickford downsized to two cars for 2024.
“I feel like I want to rewrite what my history is,” he declared.
“Because I came off the back of one of, to date, the best years of my life (in 2022) with the Super2 championship and Craig Lowndes wildcard, highest wildcard finisher.
“The year that I had last year, I just really didn’t get to show the potential that I actually have.
“And even (at Winton on Wednesday), comparing myself with Andre, we’re very similar in times straightaway and there’s not much discrepancy there, so I just feel like this is going to be my year to re-write exactly how people view me.
“I’m hungrier than ever to win and that’s why I’ve chosen to go with Andre for the co-drives.”
The 23-year-old laughed that his only conversation with Heimgartner prior to their co-driver talks related to a Symmons Plains incident last year, but noted he’s quickly feeling at home.
“I went up to the workshop and introduced myself to everyone and we sat down and had a really good pre-brief with Andre and Tony (Woodward, engineer),” said Fraser.
“Their philosophies are a lot different to what I’m used to, it actually gives back Triple Eight vibes, so it’s good to be back in that culture and speaking the same language.”
BJR has also announced Jaylyn Robotham and Jordan Boys as the respective co-drivers for Bryce Fullwood and Macauley Jones; an enduro partner is yet to be named for Jaxon Evans.
