Jason Richards' last Supercar returns to racing

The last Supercar raced by the late Jason Richards will be back in action this year, with Brad Jones Racing in the Kumho Super3 Series.

BJR has signed karting graduate Josh Fife as its first driver for the third-tier class, which will conduct four of its five 2019 rounds at Supercars events.

Fife will drive WR-010, a Walkinshaw Racing-built Holden Commodore introduced by BJR for Richards in 2010.

Richards raced it until his diagnosis with adrenocortical carcinoma that November, then made a one-off return for the non-points 2011 Australian Grand Prix support races.

He led Race 2 and ultimately finished second, in the popular Kiwi's final weekend aboard a Supercar before his death in December 2011 aged 35.

Jason Bargwanna raced the car full-time in 2011, then David Wall in '12 before it became Macauley Jones' maiden Supercar in the Dunlop Super2 Series in mid-'14.

Jones raced it through to the end of 2015, and the chassis has sat idle for the last three years.

A multiple Australian karting champion, Fife contested the WSK Super Master Series and World Championships last year, and has tackled the SKUSA SuperNationals in Las Vegas.

The 18-year-old's first foray into car racing follows two days in BJR Super2 Series machinery in the back end of 2018.

"A lot of Australia’s best drivers started their racing career in karts, and I am very aware that the jump from karts to Super3 will be a big one," Fife said.

"This challenge excites me and after seeing some of the drivers that have said they are racing in the series this year I believe it will be competitive and exciting door-to-door racing."

BJR won what was then the V8 Touring Car Series in 2017 with its current Super2 driver Jack Smith in a sister chassis to the one Fife will race.

"It’s fantastic to have Josh on board with us this year," Brad Jones said.

"He’s completed two test days with us at Winton last year and really showed some great potential. Josh has a great attitude and is fast behind the wheel.

"Super3 is a natural step up in his career and I believe it will only be a matter of time before he is progressing up to the Super2 Series.

"The team and I are looking forward to seeing what Josh can achieve this year.

"We know what it takes to win in this series and we’re on board to help Josh achieve his goals."

The 2019 Kumho Super3 Series starts at the WD-40 Phillip Island SuperSprint in April.