WITH the Repco Bathurst 1000 run and done and the 2023 Supercars full-time grid seemingly sorted, attention has pivoted to the booming co-driver market.
It’s no secret there will be two enduro events next season with the return of the Sandown 500, putting even more emphasis on teams’ extended driver rosters.
And there’s plenty still to play out.
Triple Eight Race Engineering again faces a potential three-into-two scenario unless it runs another Great Race wildcard.
Craig Lowndes’ is contracted for 2023, while Garth Tander and Jamie Whincup have publicly flagged interest in continuing on.
Walkinshaw Andretti United is a similarly interesting case with Lee Holdsworth tipped to rejoin Chaz Mostert, potentially leaving either Fabian Coulthard or Warren Luff in the lurch.
A change also appears on the cards at the Shell V-Power Racing Team, with Tony D’Alberto expected to stay but Alex Davison thought less likely to return.
Fellow Ford frontrunner Tickford Racing already has at least half of its endurance roster locked in, CEO Tim Edwards confirmed to V8 Sleuth this week.
“We’ve got two of the cars locked in, possibly three, and some options going on in the background,” he said.
James Moffat is thought to be secure there, to be paired once again with Cam Waters.
Another veteran believed to be staying put is David Russell at Erebus Motorsport, following outstanding performances the past two years.
Erebus is tipped to receive Coca-Cola backing next season, but that won’t necessarily involve Chris Pither, who is understood to be assessing multiple co-driving options.
The other factor in the teams’ championship’s top six, Grove Racing, will have at least one vacancy (due to Matt Payne’s promotion to full-time driving), if not two (pending Matt Campbell’s availability between his Porsche Penske Motorsport commitments).
Of the rest, there is much interest in the future of Richie Stanaway after his comeback to drive at this year’s Bathurst 1000.
His availability will depend on whether Boost Mobile’s Peter Adderton elects to run a wildcard campaign in the wake of missing out on a full-time entry.
Another quick Kiwi, Earl Bamber, looms as another potential player, having declared his desire to return if his international schedule allows.
The Sandown 500 is expected to take place in August next year ahead of the Bathurst 1000 in its traditional October slot.
