TIM Slade will benefit from a long-awaited sense of stability this weekend at The Bend as the 2023 Repco Supercars Championship enters Round 8.
Remarkably, it will be the first time this season the #23 Nulon Camaro driver has had the same race engineer in successive rounds.
After the team’s relationship with Phil Di Fazio lasted just one round, PremiAir Racing has mixed and matched race engineers on Slade’s car, including the likes of Blake Smith and Rhys Lenegan.
That proved a continuation of a theme of lacking continuity which Slade experienced during the second half of 2022 at the Blanchard Racing Team.
PremiAir recruit Romy Mayer stepped up last month at Sydney Motorsport Park, where Slade took results of sixth and 12th, and the German guru will again take charge at The Bend.
“Sydney was my first event working with Romy Mayer as my race engineer and Tailem Bend will be the first time this year at which I have had the same engineer for consecutive events, which I am really excited about,” said Slade.
“With her being full-time with the team we have also been able to work together since Sydney and really dissect what worked and what didn’t at the last round and what we need to improve moving forwards.
“I have had mixed speed and results at The Bend in the past, twice qualifying third and with a best finishing position of fourth, so while we will definitely use the previous visits here as a benchmark for learning and pre-event prep, we will also be keeping an open mind, especially as this will be our first time at the track with Gen3.”
Meanwhile, there’s added reason for PremiAir owner Peter Xiberras to be excited about this year’s visit to Tailem Bend.
“The Bend is a fantastic circuit for Supercars and we always look forward to racing there, and now with the new drag strip about to come online, The Bend Motorsport Park is set to get even better,” said the Australian Top Fuel Championship frontrunner.
“I can’t wait to check out the venue while in town for the Supercars Championship, ahead of racing there in October at the season opener for our new Top Fuel season.”
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