THE 2023 Dunlop Super2 Series grid has grown to at least 20 cars, with James Masterton confirming he’ll step up this season.
Masterton is a former jet ski champion who first dipped his toes into the world of Supercars with a Matt Stone Racing test in late 2018.
The son of former Australian Touring Car Championship privateer Steve Masterton has 13 Super3 starts under his belt, having debuted at Sydney Motorsport Park in mid-2020.
Masterton’s elevation to Super2 will come in the Ford Mustang most recently used as the Blanchard Racing Team’s spare chassis, wheeled out for six Supercars rounds in 2021 following Tim Slade’s heartbreaking crash at the Mount Panorama season-opener.
The car has a race-winning history, having been steered to victory by David Reynolds and Dean Canto at the 2013 Gold Coast 600 while competing as an FG Falcon.
Masterton, 39, purchased FPR 1215 in December; it is currently undergoing a rebuild, leaving a tight turnaround to Round 1 at Newcastle on March 10-12.
“We have basically stripped it all and we’re just in the process now of rebuilding everything, so it will be touch and go for Newcastle but we didn’t want to drive it without it being fully checked over and refreshed,” he told V8 Sleuth.
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The Sydneysider explained the rule change which sees the Super2 grid now exclusively made up of Gen2 Mustangs and ZB Commodores had inspired his rise.
“I was keen to do another 12 months in Super3 just to get more experience because I haven’t had a lot of Supercar experience, but with the rule change it was kind of move up or be left behind,” he said.
“And the chassis are hard to come by too so if we didn’t move up now I don’t think I would have found a chassis in a year’s time, so it was kind of sink or swim.
“I think I will get my doors blown off at the start… it’s going to be tough, there’s no doubt about that, and it’s probably a year too early for me but like I said it was move up or be left behind.
“Basically my goals for the season would be just to try to finish the rounds and not be caught up in all of the dodgem cars that goes on and just try to learn.”
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Masterton joins 19 other entries set to race in Super2 this year.
Multi-car teams will make up half the grid, namely Eggleston Motorsport (four), Tickford Racing (two), Walkinshaw Andretti United (two) and Erebus Motorsport/Image Racing (two).
Masterton’s single-car counterparts are BRT, Brad Jones Racing, Gomersall Motorsport, Anderson Motorsport, MW Motorsport and privateer entries for Matt Chahda, Zane Morse, Nash Morris and Callum Walker.
