DJR 2024 season review: Rebuild coming at a crucial time
As 2024 winds down, Supercars.com is looking over all 11 teams and their performances in this year's Repco Supercars Championship, continuing with Dick Johnson Racing.
With one win in 52 races, it hasn't been the start to the Gen3 era that Dick Johnson Racing hoped for.
So, it's no surprise that the famous Ford team is having a huge crack at getting back to the top, signing 2023 champion Brodie Kostecki, bringing on new engineers, and acquiring Erebus Motorsport-built chassis.
After the highest highs of the Penske era, DJR didn't quite hit the lowest lows, but given the standard the team set, a first winless season since 2016 will have hurt, further fuelling the fire to bounce back in emphatic fashion next season.
Will Davison was 65 points ahead of Anton De Pasquale by year's end, albeit in ninth and 11th overall. The team's only trophies of the season came on a bright weekend in New Zealand, where De Pasquale was a surprise Jason Richards Memorial Trophy winner.
Three DNFs and a DNS dented De Pasquale's season, while Davison couldn't convert a Sydney pole. The team never let the results dampen its spirit; it is impossible to ignore the remarkable efforts in rebuilding Davison's smashed car after his terrible Bathurst qualifying accident.
Reinstalled as Team Principal before the season, Dr Ryan Story has made little secret of the performance, or lack thereof, and has expressed clear desire to be racing at the front.
Dick Johnson Racing: 2024 season results and head-to-heads
Drivers' finish: Will Davison 9th, Anton De Pasquale 11th
Teams' finish: 5th
Best result: 2nd (Will Davison, Taupō Race 22)
Qualifying head to head: Anton De Pasquale 14, Will Davison 10
Race head to head: Will Davison 14, Anton De Pasquale 10
What’s next in 2025?
The arrival of Brodie Kostecki will be a huge shot in the arm for DJR, given he won the championship and Bathurst in the previous 18 months once he rolls out in Sydney in February. With the right tools at his disposal, Kostecki is the best on the grid, without question.
Story has indicated that the team is hoping to be all guns blazing by the Finals, and admitted he isn't expecting a miracle in Round 1. However, given the significance of the changes, there's every chance DJR could roll out and pull off something special.
You don't need to look far to see Davison still has what it takes, with the 42-year-old nearly stealing a podium in the last race in Adelaide. Fitter than ever, Davison is set to rack up his 600th race in 2025, and has made every effort to prolong his prime. One of the cleanest racers on the grid, Davison will get a new engineer, with Richard Harris moving on.
For DJR fans, there is so much to be excited about. A champion driver's arrival, big changes, new cars, and clear intent to win. No stranger to title glory, could DJR deliver a knockout blow in 2025?
