Hazelwood confirms CoolDrive switch

Todd Hazelwood has been confirmed at the Blanchard Racing Team for 2023, the team has announced.

BRT also confirmed Tim Slade will depart at season’s end, paving the way to a move elsewhere.

Just six seats have yet to be formally announced for 2023; Hazelwood's vacancy at Matt Stone Racing is now one of them.

Brad Jones Racing is expected to retain its four-driver line-up, while PremiAir Racing hasn't confirmed its 2023 line-up.

Slade has been linked to a move to PremiAir Racing for some time.

Hazelwood, meanwhile, will steer the #3 CoolDrive Mustang as the team enters the Gen3 era.

The 2017 Super2 champion will leave MSR after just one season; ironically, Hazelwood's Supercars debut in 2017 came as Blanchard's co-driver.

Stone confirmed to Supercars.com earlier this year that Hazelwood had been allowed to speak to other teams.

One such team proved to be BRT, which also confirmed it will field a Super2 entry in 2023.

Hazelwood only joined MSR this year

The news comes just days before cars hit the track in Bathurst.

"We would like to welcome Todd to BRT for the 2023 season, as we take on the challenge of the Gen3 era,” Blanchard said.

“Todd has established himself in the series over recent years.

“We are confident that in our environment working alongside Mirko De Rosa, he will be able to fulfil his potential that has been evident to date.

“In 2023 we will enter our third season as a standalone team and continue to build on the foundations we have laid.

“We are investing in additional infrastructure, assisting Supercars with the Gen3 project.

“We are excited to add a Super2 program to the business as an additional tool to develop talent within the team."

On Slade departing, Blanchard said: "We would like to thank Tim Slade for his contribution to BRT in its foundation years.

“While it is disappointing we couldn’t reach an agreement for 2023, we wish him all the best for his future.”

Slade leaves after two seasons with BRT

Hazelwood, 27, was eager to join the Ford team.

“I am very proud that I’ll be joining the Blanchard Racing Team in 2023,” he said.

"I cannot wait to get behind the wheel of the CoolDrive Ford Mustang.

“The team at BRT has big ambitions for the future and I’m looking forward to the challenge of pushing myself to achieve the goals put in place.

“BRT has an incredibly professional outfit which includes very experienced personnel with strong resources within the automotive industry.

"With all this combined, I have no doubt this will help the team and I achieve our goals in 2023 and beyond."

Cars will hit the track at Mount Panorama for Practice 1 on Thursday October 6.

Tickets for the Repco Bathurst 1000 are available on Supercars.com and Ticketek.

2023 Repco Supercars Championship grid (as of October 3, 2022)