2023 silly season: Five key questions

The 2022 season is at its midway point, lending itself to forthcoming questions about 2023.

Next season will be the first of the Gen3 era, with the 2023 campaign to commence in Newcastle.

The 2021 and 2022 silly seasons were rife with change, and expect 2023 to be no different.

The driver market is stable for leading teams such as Triple Eight and Walkinshaw Andretti United.

WAU will also make a blockbuster shift to Ford come 2023, ending over 30 years running General Motors machinery.

Chaz Mostert and Nick Percat are locked in long-term with WAU, as is Andre Heimgartner with Brad Jones Racing.

Todd Hazelwood and Jack Le Brocq have also been promised 2023 seats at Matt Stone Racing.

Tim Slade is expected to remain with Blanchard Racing Team, although the team has floated an expansion to two cars.

There is great talent waiting in the wings, such as Zane Goddard and Fabian Coulthard, both of whom are keen to make full-time comebacks.

Zak Best, Jayden Ojeda and Jordan Boys have all made wildcard starts already this season.

Richie Stanaway, meanwhile, could raise some eyebrows should he impress in his Bathurst wildcard.

Ahead of the OTR SuperSprint, Supercars.com takes a look at the key questions needing to be answered for 2023.

DJR and Erebus

Questions have followed Will Davison for the last few weeks over his plans for 2023.

However, Davison has stood up in the face of the rumours and pieced together a superb campaign.

Davison has taken a season-high six poles, a win in Perth and eight further podiums.

The two-time Bathurst winner’s form speaks for itself, and is keen to continue with the Shell V-Power Racing Team.

Davison is just 86 points behind teammate Anton De Pasquale, who joined the team from Erebus Motorsport in the 2020/21 summer.

It’s another Erebus driver, Will Brown, whose name has been bandied around in the paddock.

Brown’s 2022 season hasn’t gone to plan, however, with the Queenslander having recorded just seven top 10s in 18 starts.

Once WAU moves to Ford, Erebus will be keen to establish itself as the second form GM team behind Triple Eight.

Whether Brown remains part of that plan remains to be seen.

Status quo at Tickford?

Cam Waters has won three races already in 2022, and is off the market, having signed a multi-year deal last year.

James Courtney also signed a multi-year deal last year, but has toiled through an up-and-down season.

Courtney could prove an asset come Gen3, and nearly scored a shock win in Perth.

Thomas Randle and Jake Kostecki are also on multi-year deals, but Zak Best is knocking on the door.

Tickford handed Best wildcard starts for Darwin and Tailem Bend, and will also make a second Great Race start.

Who will remain at Penrite Racing?

Stephen Grove says Penrite Racing will "definitely" hand Super2 front-runner Matt Payne a full-time debut in 2023.

Payne would likely race alongside one of the two incumbents, David Reynolds and Lee Holdsworth.

Reynolds has impressed with six podiums this season, and is seventh overall.

It has been a tougher season for Holdsworth, who is 13th.

Qualifying speed has been Holdsworth’s Achilles heel, but he has made several charges through the field.

What next for Team 18?

Scott Pye’s 2022 campaign has been tougher than most so far, but he is secure with Team 18 for 2023.

It’s yet to be confirmed whether Mark Winterbottom will stay on for a fifth season with the team.

Like Courtney, the vastly experienced Winterbottom would be an asset come Gen3.

The 2023 season would be 2015 champion Winterbottom’s 21st full-time campaign.

Gen3 could be the boost Winterbottom needs, and he brings considerable identity to the team.

Team owner Charlie Schwerkolt recently indicated that Winterbottom is on his "radar to keep".

PremiAir’s sophomore season

PremiAir Racing has already made a number of changes, none more significant than replacing Garry Jacobson with James Golding.

The team has been pleased with how Golding slotted in quickly, but that doesn’t guarantee a contract.

Team owner Peter Xiberras wants Golding to walk before he can run, but equally expects performance.

Given Xiberras’ investment in the team, PremiAir Racing could yet firm as a player in the market.

Chris Pither responded under presser with speed in Townsville, and now has six more rounds to prove himself.

Prior to Jacobson’s departure, the team handed a number of young drivers laps at Queensland Raceway.

Zane Goddard tested with the team, along with Super2 drivers Cameron Hill and Tyler Everingham.

Goddard committed to his Tickford co-drive, which opened the door for Golding to see out 2022 with PremiAir.

The 2022 season will resume at the OTR SuperSprint on July 30-31. Purchase your tickets now.