Andre Heimgartner

Andre Heimgartner returns to full-time Supercars competition in 2018, replacing the now-retired Todd Kelly at Nissan Motorsport.

The young Kiwi always had his sights set on Supercars, and after a string of strong results in karts made the step up to the New Zealand Formula Vee Championship at just 12 years old, followed by seasons in Australian Formula Ford and Carrera Cup.

Alongside an NZ V8SuperTourer Series campaign, he made his debut in the Dunlop Super2 Series in 2013, with his efforts over the next two seasons enough to catch the eye of the new Super Black Racing.

Heimgartner was signed for its Bathurst 2014 wildcard entry, and became the full-time driver for its maiden season in ’15, with highlights including qualifying third at Queensland Raceway and finishing seventh at Sydney Motorsport Park.

He moved to Lucas Dumbrell Motorsport in 2016 and finished 25th in the championship, but looked set to go through last year without racing a Supercar.

While his focus shifted back to Carrera Cup and GT racing in Asia, Heimgartner was called up by Brad Jones Racing during the Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000 weekend to replace the injured Ash Walsh.

With Tim Slade, Heimgartner finished ninth in the Great Race, then starred in the wet on the Gold Coast to take his maiden podium with third.