#23 makes comeback with PremiAir recruit Slade

The #23 will be used for the first time in three years, with Tim Slade adopting the number for his first season with PremiAir Racing.

The team announced on Wednesday that Slade will run the #23 on his Chevrolet Camaro in 2023.

It replaces the #22 used by Chris Pither in 2022, with James Golding retaining the #31.

The announcement marks the final piece of the 2023 car number puzzle.

Supercars.com recently confirmed that Shane van Gisbergen has opted to keep the #97 for his title defence.

Matt Payne’s first season with Penrite Racing will come with the #19 on the window.

The #19 and David Reynolds’ #26 are a nod to Penrite’s founding year in 1926.

Davison last used the #23 in 2020

Slade has previously run the #23 before — the South Australian carried the number in Super2 in 2008.

He won his first race and round with the number and his own team, SladeSpeed.

Slade — who will record his 400th start in Newcastle — debuted with Paul Morris Motorsport in 2009.

The #23 was last used by Will Davison between 2018 and 2020 for 23Red Racing.

The number made its last appearance at the eventually-cancelled Albert Park event before the team folded due to COVID-19.

"My first racing number in karts was the #24, which I used for the first half of my karting career," Slade said.

"When I moved into the top junior class that number was already taken, so I dropped the ‘4’ and from then on, I used #2.

PremiAir used the #22 and #31 last year

"The next time in my career I had the opportunity to pick my own number was in 2008 with SladeSpeed, but again, the #24 was already taken and so was #2, so I chose the #23 as it is obviously close to #24.

"I also generally just liked the number, having been a bit of an NBA fan as a kid with Michael Jordan and also the cricket with Shane Warne, who both carried the 23 in their careers.

"With the history behind it, I really want to say thank you to Peter [Xiberras, team owner] for allowing me to choose my own number upon joining his team – it is really nice to have a bit more of a personal feel to it all.

"I am greatly looking forward to this new era in my Supercars main game career with PremiAir Racing and to be carrying #23 as I make my 400th Supercars race start in Newcastle – I can’t wait to get into it."

The 2023 Repco Supercars Championship will commence in Newcastle on March 10-12.

Tickets are on sale on Supercars.com and Ticketek.com.

2023 Repco Supercars Championship car numbers