2023 engineering line-up taking shape

Many teams are opting for tried and tested driver-engineer combinations for the 2023 Repco Supercars Championship.

Up to 20 driver-engineer combinations from 2022 could carry over into the new season.

There will be no changes at Triple Eight, Dick Johnson Racing, Walkinshaw Andretti United, Erebus Motorsport and Team 18.

That includes Andrew Edwards, who led Shane van Gisbergen to a record 21 race victories in 2022.

WAU will also keep Adam Austin alongside Nick Percat after the duo found success late last season.

Compared to 2022, there wasn't much of a driver silly season for 2023.

Of the 25 full-time drivers who raced in 2022, 20 will be at the same team for the coming season.

CoolDrive Racing recruit Todd Hazelwood has replaced Tim Slade, who has joined PremiAir Racing.

Edwards (L) led van Gisbergen to 21 wins in 2022

Cameron Hill (Matt Stone Racing) and Matt Payne (Penrite Racing) will make their debuts this season.

Tickford Racing confirmed on Wednesday that Jake Kostecki will not return with the team this year.

However, the biggest changes come with the machinery, with the new Gen3 cars certain to lead to some ice cream headaches for engineers early on.

There will be at least one engineering change at Penrite Racing, Brad Jones Racing and MSR.

It emerged on Thursday that decorated engineer Paul Forgie, who engineered Jack Smith last season, will shift from BJR to MSR.

Forgie, who notably engineered Marcos Ambrose at Stone Brothers Racing, will skipper Hill's rookie campaign in 2023.

David Reynolds will again be led by Alistair McVean, with the Grove team to announce rookie Payne's engineer in due course.

McVean (R) and Reynolds bounced back in 2022

The four-car Tickford and BJR teams are set to confirm their full line-ups, as will PremiAir Racing, in coming weeks.

Sam Potter has engineered Cam Waters since 2019, with Sam Scaffifi engineering James Courtney last year.

Kostecki, meanwhile, was engineered by Rhys Lenegan, with Raymond Lau looking after Thomas Randle.

Phil Keed returned to BJR in 2022 alongside Bryce Fullwood, while Tony Woodward stepped in alongside Andre Heimgartner.

Macauley Jones, meanwhile, was engineered by Tom Wettenhall.

Drivers and engineers will get their first look at their new cars when testing begins in February.

Queensland teams are slated for a shakedown on January 30, with Victorian teams to shake down their new cars on February 1.

The 2023 Repco Supercars Championship will commence in Newcastle on March 10-12.

Tickets are on sale on Supercars.com and Ticketek.com.

What we know so far: 2023 driver-engineer combinations