ANDRE Heimgartner will join Brad Jones Racing for the 2022 Repco Supercars Championship season.
The 26-year-old Kiwi recently announced his departure from Kelly Grove Racing, his home of the past four seasons and for whom he took his first Supercars Championship race win earlier this year at The Bend.
The victory came in Heimgartner’s sixth full-time season in the championship since making his debut in Super Black Racing’s wildcard entry for the 2014 Bathurst 1000.
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The deal reunites Heimgartner with the Albury-based squad following a star cameo as a super-sub for the team in 2017.
“I’m extremely excited to announce my new long-term signing with BJR,” Heimgartner said.
“BJR was a big part of my resurgence back onto the Supercar scene, with a last-minute call-up to replace the injured Ash Walsh in 2017 that resulted in a podium in the Gold Coast 500 with Tim Slade.
“To be joining such a legendary team with such great people, is an amazing opportunity and challenge I am really looking forward to.
“I can’t wait for the years ahead and much more success to come.”
The announcement comes a few hours after Nick Percat revealed that he will depart the Albury team at the end of 2021.
Heimgartner’s recruitment means that BJR will continue to have a race-winning driver among its roster in 2022.
“Andre is a familiar face with the BJR team and I’m extremely excited to have him on board, full-time, for the 2022 season and beyond,” team boss Brad Jones said.
“I’ve watched him develop over the last few years and see a lot of potential in him. I think he’ll fit right in with our team and partners.
“I feel like we’ll be in a good position to fight for wins and podiums moving forward.”
Heimgartner’s signing completes one quarter of BJR’s driver roster for 2022.
Jack Smith is expected to continue into his third full-time ‘main game’ season in the team’s #4 entry, while the futures of current drivers Todd Hazelwood and Macauley Jones are yet to be confirmed.
