David Reynolds nearly claimed a Bathurst win from the clouds last year. Now the oldest driver on the grid, what does 2026 have in store?
David Reynolds was half a car-width away from claiming the most unlikely of Bathurst wins in what was an otherwise mixed season.
The 40-year-old veteran also claimed a pole at Townsville, and showed strong speed at the back end of the season, being rewarded with a one-year contract option being taken up by Team 18.
For the first time in over a decade, Reynolds will drive for factory-backed homologation team, and continuing a strong teammate alongside in Anton De Pasquale, he will be eager to teach the new wave of young guns some new tricks.
Reynolds joined Team 18 in 2024 off the back of fine form with Penrite Racing. After five years without a win, Reynolds won on the Gold Coast in 2023, and almost scored another in Adelaide.
The story for Reynolds is of a popular larrikin who has found his ideal environment to thrive in.
After losing his Tickford Racing seat soon after his infamous Bathurst press conference of 2015, Reynolds took refuge with another of the sport’s great characters, Erebus owner Betty Klimenko.
Reynolds joined at a time when the team shifted from the Gold Coast to Melbourne and Mercedes to Holden, and the move initially came up trumps.
He scored 19 podiums for the team between 2017 and 2019, including the 2017 Bathurst crown and three other race wins. However, a 2020 without a podium stung, and he sought a change.
After a tough first season with Penrite Racing, Reynolds returned to his best in 2022 with seven podiums and two poles.
As a youngster, Reynolds won multiple Australian titles on his way to the Supercars grid, including the 2004 Australian Formula Ford Championship and '07 Porsche Carrera Cup crown.
He made his Supercars debut in ‘07 as a Paul Weel Racing endurance co-driver, and entered the Dunlop Super2 Series the following year.
Fourth place led to a full-time drive in Supercars for 2009, but the Albury native lasted just one season at Walkinshaw Racing.
After a year out, Reynolds returned to the main series via Kelly Racing and was then picked up by Rod Nash’s entry within Ford Performance Racing for 2012.
Reynolds became a race winner in 2013 on the streets of the Gold Coast – embarking in some memorable celebrations with co-driver Dean Canto – and contended for the 2015 title in a Ford-dominated season.