Golding’s co-driver announced for Sandown and Bathurst
After pairing together for last year’s Repco Bathurst 1000, Dylan O’Keeffe and Jimmy Golding will once again race together for the 2023 Supercars enduros.
Nulon Racing have today confirmed that O’Keeffe will join Golding in the #31 Nulon Racing Camaro for this year’s Penrite Oil Sandown 500 and Repco Bathurst 1000.
This will be O’Keeffe’s fifth Supercars Championship race start and his fourth Bathurst 1000, following appearances at the 2019 Gold Coast 600 with GRM (as a last-minute replacement for Richie Stanaway), at the 2020 Bathurst 1000 with Kelly Racing alongside Andre Heimgartner (finishing 11th), the 2021 Bathurst 1000 with Team Sydney (finishing 14th), and the 2022 Bathurst 1000 – where O’Keeffe and Golding finished P12.
“This has been far from a rushed discussion, but at the same time, Dylan went above and beyond for us last year and the team were very happy with him while he also has a very good relationship with Jimmy, so it is a very natural fit and something of a ‘no brainer,’” Nulon Racing Team Principal, Matt Cook, said.
“Dylan was with our team at the pre-season test at Sydney Motorsport Park at the beginning of the year and then again at our recent Queensland Raceway test day, with plenty of seat time at both. He was also at our opening round at Newcastle, at which he got a good feel for the 2023 team dynamic.
“We are confident he will be able to hit the ground running with us in Sandown for the start of the enduro season, and I can’t wait to see what he and Jimmy can achieve together in the #31.”
25-year-old O’Keeffe and Golding have been close since their days at Garry Rogers Motorsport.
“I really enjoyed working with Jimmy and Nulon Racing last year, so I am very excited to once again be partnering with the team to take on the Sandown 500 and Bathurst 1000 in the new Gen 3 Camaro,” O’Keeffe said.
“I have had a good number of laps in the #31 this year between the pre-season test at Sydney Motorsport Park and the recent Queensland Raceway test day, and I am doing all I can off the track to prepare for this year’s enduro season.
“Jimmy and I have a great relationship, and after having different co-drivers in my first three Bathurst starts, it’s good to have some continuity for 2023.”
Golding said:
“To share the car with Dylan for the first time at Bathurst last year was very enjoyable and we worked well together.
“He did a faultless job last year at the 1000, so to have him on board again racing for not only Bathurst but also the Sandown 500, to kick off our enduro campaign will be awesome.”
“Having Sandown back on the calendar ahead of the 1000 is much better. I have some good memories from that circuit and it's one both Dylan and I have been successful at in the past. Bathurst is no different in terms of previous performances so I think both together will bring some great results for the team.”
In 2019 O’Keefe secured top-five championship finishes in the Dunlop Super2 Championship (2019 in a GRM Holden).
In 2023 he is competing in both Porsche Carrera Cup Australia and also at select GT World Challenge Australia events.
Golding sits 14th in the Championship standings, just behind teammate Tim Slade heading into next month’s NTI Townsville 500 that runs 7-9 July in North Queensland.
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