TYLER Everingham has won the race to the most coveted Repco Bathurst 1000 co-drive available, getting the nod to partner Scott Pye in October.
Team 18 had initially been preparing to head to Mount Panorama with an unchanged quartet of Mark Winterbottom/Michael Caruso and Pye/James Golding before the latter grabbed a sudden full-time opportunity that arose at PremiAir Racing.
That shifted the co-driver market, presenting a new midfield opportunity.
With Jayden Ojeda retained by Matt Stone Racing and Cameron Hill locked in at PremiAir, Everingham and 2017 Great Race winner Luke Youlden were perhaps the two leading contenders yet to sign.
The Charlie Schwerkolt-led squad has opted for youth, with Everingham having pieced together an impressive resume despite being just 21 years of age.
MORE: Updated Bathurst 1000 entry list
The Dubbo product won the 2018 title in what is now known as Super3, was a rookie race winner in Super2 the following year, and made his first and thus far only Bathurst 1000 start in 2020 for Garry Rogers Motorsport.
He has since added another four Super2 race wins, including one at The Mountain.
“We’re extremely thrilled to welcome Tyler to the team to join up with Scott for Bathurst,” said Schwerkolt.
“We had a host of drivers to choose from for the seat and Tyler stood out amongst the pack for someone with his pace and experience at The Mountain for his age.
“What really stood out for us was his attitude and approach to racing, he shows maturity well beyond his years and he has fitted in well with the crew for the time he has spent with the team already.
“Bathurst is only two months away, so we’ve already began to integrate him in with the team and we’ll be sure to give him plenty of miles between now and then with the co-driver session at Sandown, a ride day and a test day before we get to The Mountain.
“We’re excited to encourage young talent into the championship and we’ll put our best foot forward to give him the tools to execute at his best for Scott and the team when we get to Bathurst.”
Pye was similarly excited to provide a major opportunity to one of Australian motorsport’s rising talents.
“It’s really important to support young talent coming through,” he said.
“I was there once and I was given my shot in the main game and grabbed it with both hands and did the best I could in my first endurance event, and I’m excited that we’re giving Tyler that opportunity as well, for him to get his first proper crack at Bathurst with us is a really good opportunity for him.
“He’s young and keen and I think in terms of our sport it’s really good to try and bring in new young talent as well and back what the junior categories are delivering.
“Tyler’s been doing a fantastic job so I think he’s going to be a great asset to our team.”
As flagged by Schwerkolt, Everingham will be in the #20 ZB Commodore this Friday for the additional driver practice at Sandown.
“It’s really exciting to team up with Scott Pye and Team 18 for the Bathurst 1000 this year,” he said.
“I’m extremely determined to make the most of this opportunity, it’s one of the best seats on the grid at the moment for a co-drive so it was pretty special to get the call up from Charlie to join the team for Bathurst.
“The wildcard in 2020 was extremely valuable, that was my first time in the 1000 and to be the main driver in that entry was a great experience.”
The GRM wildcard race engineer on that occasion was Richard Hollway, who now leads the Car #20 program.
“It’s cool to team up with him again and learn from him and Scott over the next couple of months as we prepare for the race,” Everingham continued.
“Scott has proven to be one of the top drivers at The Mountain over the years, so I’ll be working hard with to soak up as much as I can from him to ensure we put ourselves in a good position to be a contender at the end of the race.
“The co-driver session at Sandown will be extremely valuable to work with Scott and the team to build those relationships and processes so we’re best prepared when we get to Mount Panorama.
“A massive thanks to Charlie Schwerkolt, Bruin Beasley, Scott Pye and everyone at Team 18 for the chance to join them and I can’t wait to turn my first laps with the team at Sandown.”
With doubt surrounding the proposed Anderson Motorsport wildcard effort, there may be just one co-drive left up for grabs: alongside Jack Smith at Brad Jones Racing.
David Wall is the favourite, although it will be Craig Lowndes who makes a cameo appearance in the #4 SCT Logistics Holden at Sandown.
