THE Blanchard Racing Team has confirmed Aaron Love and James Courtney as its new-look driver line-up for the 2024 Repco Supercars Championship.
After three seasons as a single-car squad, BRT will run two Gen3 Ford Mustangs next year after acquiring a Teams Racing Charter and car currently being used by Tickford Racing.
Love will replace Todd Hazelwood in the #3 CoolDrive entry, while Courtney will bring Snowy River Caravans across from Tickford as naming rights for his #7 Ford.
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“It’s exciting to have Aaron and James onboard as we take the next step in our development as a team,” said team co-principal Tim Blanchard.
“We are thrilled to welcome James and Snowy River Caravans to BRT on a multi-year agreement. Their combined passion for the sport will compliment BRT and help us achieve our goals.
“We are also excited to watch Aaron develop as he has quickly proven himself as being one of Supercars’ hottest prospects.
“Todd Hazelwood has been an important part of the BRT story to date, we thank him for his contribution to our development in 2023, and we hope to work with him again in the future.”
Love made his main game debut at last month’s Sandown 500, sharing a wildcard with Jake Kostecki.
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Coming off a dominant Carrera Cup Australia campaign, the 21-year-old has flashed supreme pace during his rookie Super2 season and chalked up a maiden win at Bathurst.
“I’m extremely grateful and excited to be given this opportunity to continue with BRT into 2024,” he said.
“Even though I’ve only been a part of BRT for just under a year, I’ve got a lot of confidence in them and know they’ll do everything in their power to keep building the team and strive for success. To be a part of that journey really excites me.
“Although we’ve had an up-and-down season so far in 2023, I think we’ve shown some really promising performances, but there is still work to do.
“It’s definitely going to be a challenge to step up, but to do it with like-minded people is rare. I’m very happy to be surrounded by a team who are all working to the same objective.”
As for Courtney, a multi-year deal should take him through to the end of 2025 and thus two full decades as a Supercars regular.
The ex-Jaguar Formula 1 test driver has impressively recorded at least one podium in each of his 18 seasons to date.
“It’s great to be able to confirm my partnership with BRT and continue to work with the crew at Snowy River Caravans,” said Courtney.
“I love the family-run dynamic of the team, and they have demonstrated they are committed to make the investment it takes to be a front-running outfit.
“Pairing up with Aaron will be another exciting prospect. He is one of the rising stars of the Supercar ranks at the moment and I look forward to taking him under my wing as a mentor. I have no doubt he has the speed to really push me and the team forward.
“Tim and John (Blanchard) are racers through and through, and it’s exciting to be a part of their next chapter.”
Hazelwood’s penultimate round with BRT, the Boost Mobile Gold Coast 500, begins tomorrow.
