WITH the next chapter of Tim Slade’s Repco Supercars Championship career announced this morning, V8 Sleuth takes a walk down memory lane to revisit his 14-year journey in the main game.
Paul Morris Motorsports, 2009
The South Australian made the jump straight from the Super2 Series, debuting at Adelaide without any prior top-flight experience in endurance co-drives.
He’d have to wait until Round 3 to see the chequered flag for the first time, but the Phillip Island and Bathurst enduros later brought highlights in the form of seventh-place finishes in both.
Stone Brothers Racing, 2010-12
Having helped Slade into PMM in 2009, SA businessman James Rosenberg went a step further and bought a franchise that enabled the youngster to drive at an expanded SBR in 2010.
It was with the Ford squad that Slade claimed a career-best fifth in the championship in 2012.
Erebus Motorsport, 2013
Slade and Rosenberg stayed on through SBR’s switch to Erebus Motorsport Mercedes but results proved hard to come by, winding up 22nd in the end-of-year rankings.
Walkinshaw Racing, 2014-15
Slade’s return to Commodore machinery as part of Walkinshaw Racing’s second garage (alongside its flagship Holden Racing Team cars) brought him four podiums across two seasons.
Brad Jones Racing, 2016-19
Next up was a chance to replace DJR Team Penske-bound Fabian Coulthard as BJR’s lead driver.
By his 10th race with the Albury outfit, he was standing atop a Supercars Championship podium.
Dick Johnson Racing, 2020 (co-driver)
Having missed out on a full-time seat, DJR swooped on Slade to co-drive with Scott McLaughlin, combining for fifth in the Bathurst 1000.
Blanchard Racing Team, 2021-22
The launch of BRT as a standalone squad handed Slade a lifeline, getting him a Mustang of his own.
PremiAir Racing, 2023 (and beyond?)
Next up: Senior driver status at PremiAir Racing as the Gen3 era begins next season. He’ll drive one of two Chevrolet Camaros being built for the team by Triple Eight.
