Nissan Altima
biography
Andre Heimgartner stays on with Kelly Racing in 2019, after replacing the retired Todd Kelly in '18.
The young Kiwi always had his sights set on Supercars, and moved from karting to Formula Vee 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, then became the full-time driver for its maiden season, 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 2017 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.
That helped pave the way for a Nissan drive replacing team co-owner Kelly, with Heimgartner finishing a personal-best 17th in the points.
He finished the campaign strongly, with three top 10 race results and two Shootout appearances across the Pukekohe and Newcastle weekends.
latest News
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Season Progress
| Event | Race | Qualifying | Finish | Championship |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2019 Superloop Adelaide 500 ›
|
Race 1 › | 13 | 13 | 13 |
| Race 2 › | 17 | 13 | 14 | |
|
2019 Beaurepaires Melbourne 400 ›
|
Race 3 › | 15 | 15 | 13 |
| Race 4 › | 17 | 18 | 16 | |
| Race 5 › | 17 | 9 | 13 | |
| Race 6 › | 23 | 14 | 14 | |
|
2019 Tyrepower Tasmania SuperSprint ›
|
Race 7 › | 25 | 18 | 15 |
| Race 8 › | 18 | 17 | 15 | |
|
2019 WD-40 Phillip Island SuperSprint ›
|
Race 9 › | 4 | 3 | 12 |
| Race 10 › | 13 | 13 | 14 | |
|
2019 PIRTEK Perth SuperNight ›
|
Race 11 › | 13 | 17 | 14 |
| Race 12 › | 6 | 23 | 15 | |
|
2019 Truck Assist Winton SuperSprint ›
|
Race 13 › | 21 | 8 | 15 |
| Race 14 › | 10 | 11 | 15 | |
|
2019 BetEasy Darwin Triple Crown ›
|
Race 15 › | 9 | 16 | 15 |
| Race 16 › | 14 | 11 | 15 | |
|
2019 Watpac Townsville 400 ›
|
Race 17 › | 8 | 12 | 15 |
| Race 18 › | 11 | 18 | 15 | |
|
2019 Century Batteries Ipswich SuperSprint ›
|
Race 19 › | 15 | 12 | 15 |
| Race 20 › | 7 | 7 | 13 | |
|
2019 OTR SuperSprint ›
|
Race 21 › | 6 | 5 | 13 |
| Race 22 › | 12 | 20 | 13 | |
|
2019 ITM Auckland SuperSprint ›
|
Race 23 › | 16 | 8 | 12 |
| Race 24 › | 13 | 19 | 12 | |
|
2019 Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000 ›
|
Race 25 › | 13 | NC | 15 |
|
2019 Vodafone Gold Coast 600 ›
|
Race 26 › | 8 | NC | 17 |
| Race 27 › | 21 | 21 | 17 | |
|
2019 Penrite Oil Sandown 500 ›
|
Race 29 › | 4 | 2 | 17 |
| Race 30 › | 2 | 8 | 17 | |
|
2019 Coates Hire Newcastle 500 ›
|
Race 31 › | 18 | 21 | 15 |
| Race 32 › | 12 | 12 | 16 |
Vehicle detail
The Kelly Racing name returns to Supercars in 2019, following the end of Nissan's factory backing of the Altima program.
