The NTI Townsville 500 provided plenty of news within the Repco Supercars Championship as co-driver announcements and a contract extension were confirmed during the event.
Just three seats are left to be confirmed for the Supercars season of endurance following confirmations by Erebus Motorsport, Blanchard Racing Team and Matt Chahda’s Wildcard entry of co-drivers.
Erebus Motorsport announced Jayden Ojeda will join Jack Le Brocq at the squad for Sandown and Bathurst.
Ojeda is now a regular endurance driver having been paired with Le Brocq at Matt Stone Racing last year finishing ninth at the Mountain.
“We’re all looking forward to having Jayden join us for the enduros,” Erebus Team Principal Brad Tremain said.
“His experience and having already paired with Jack make him an obvious choice and alongside Brodie and Todd in the #1 car, we think we’ve got a really strong line up to take on Sandown and the Mountain.”
Ojeda is excited to remain alongside Le Brocq at the reigning championship winning team.
“I’m really looking forward to driving with Jack again,” said Ojeda.
“We had a good run last year and I’m eager to build on that, particularly now with the Erebus crew behind us. The team is top-notch, and I can’t wait to see what we can achieve together.”
Young gun Aaron Cameron will make his Supercars debut alongside full-time rookie Aaron Love at the Blanchard Racing Team.
Cameron is currently second in the Super2 standings for Kelly Racing finishing a best of second twice this year.
“I am thrilled to join BRT as co-driver for the 2024 Supercars endurance season,” Cameron said.
“The opportunity to work with an emerging team and showcase my skills with another young guy in Aaron Love is very exciting.
“I look forward to contributing to the team’s success on the track.”
Team Co-Principal Tim Blanchard is thrilled to usher in a new generation of drivers in the operation’s second Ford Mustang.
“We are delighted to welcome Aaron Cameron to BRT,” said Blanchard.
“Aaron’s outstanding performances during our evaluation days at the end of last season and earlier this year have left a strong impression on us.
“Alongside his great form in Super2, where he currently holds second place in the championship, Aaron’s impressive achievements across various categories and his evident racing talent make him a valuable asset to our team.
“His experience and winning attitude align perfectly with our team’s goals, and we are confident that he will make a significant impact alongside Aaron Love.”
Super2 will be well represented in the endurance season as the previously announced Wildcard of Matt Chahda will provide rival Brad Vaughan his Supercars debut at Sandown and Bathurst.
“Ever since I was a little kid, I wanted to race in the Bathurst 1000,” Vaughan said.
“To do it as a wildcard as well, there’s a little less pressure, but I think we can still go out and get a good result.
“Matt said he wanted someone from Super2, so it’s sort of good we’ve raced each other the last few years, so hopefully we can put that knowledge into the main game. To be doing it will be a ‘pinch yourself’ moment.”
The privateer team has purchased a Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 from Triple Eight Race Engineering, so expect some Wildcard appearances in the future.
Finally, it was exciting news for Nick Percat and Matt Stone Racing after it was announced he will stay with the squad until the end of the 2027 Repco Supercars Championship season.
“I’m extremely excited to have extended my contract with Matt and the MSR family,” Percat said.
“From the moment I met the guys and girls at MSR, I knew it was the team I wanted to be at.
“Throughout the season so far everyone has continued to lift and I can see the momentum building.
“I feel I have found a family that I can grow with and continue to get great results; Matt and the team have all the tools in place for success and I’m proud to be a part of it.
“Having a long term deal with MSR means we can build on our great start, and the relationship with the crew and [Race Engineer] Jack Bellotti will be extremely strong for the years to come.
“It’s very exciting for me to be a part of what we have here at this team and the journey ahead.”
Percat won Matt Stone Racing’s second Supercars race at the Australian Grand Prix earlier this season.
Team Owner Matt Stone is glad to enjoy continuity in the squad’s driver line-up after Cameron Hill signed a multi-year deal last year.
“Nick has been a fantastic addition to the culture at our team,” team owner Stone said.
“The results have been solid and we are looking strong in what is a very tight championship this year both in drivers and team’s points.
“It’s great to have Nick locked in for the next few years at MSR, we are excited for what the future holds together.”
The Panasonic Air Conditioning Sydney SuperNight will take place on July 19-21.