Pither proud to sign off with finish record

Chris Pither was proud to sign off from PremiAir Racing with a 100 per cent finish record in 2022.

Pither raced from 24th to 16th in his final race for the team at the VALO Adelaide 500.

The 36-year-old Kiwi departs PremiAir Racing, having joined late in the summer.

He will be replaced by Tim Slade — who is leaving CoolDrive Racing — next season.

Pither was one of five drivers to see the chequered flag in all 34 races.

Shane van Gisbergen, Cam Waters, Brodie Kostecki and Mark Winterbottom — first, second, seventh and ninth overall — were the others.

It was a reflection of Pither’s smarts — while the #22 Coca-Cola Commodore wasn’t the fastest, he brought it home straight.

It came in a season which featured 33 Safety Car deployments and a record six race stoppages.

The performance will hold Pither in good stead as he aims to secure a leading co-drive for the 2023 enduros.

"We kept our nose clean and stayed out of trouble and were able to bring it home in P16,” Pither said of Sunday.

"Not only that, but by finishing the race today we ensured that we were one of only five cars on the grid this season that finished all 34 races.

“Which is a pretty big deal when you look back on what this season has entailed for all involved.

“I want to thank everyone at PremiAir Racing for all of their efforts over the year, and wish them the best of luck for the future.”

It was an achievement not lost on PremiAir Team Principal Matt Cook, who was proud of the departing veteran.

The outcome was boosted by another Top Ten Shootout performance on the Saturday by James Golding.

Golding will remain with the team for 2023, having re-signed after the Gold Coast event.

"I also have to say a massive congratulations to Chris,” Cook said.

“He finished every race all year with absolutely no DNFs all season long.

“That was great for him in his last race with the team.

"I couldn’t be more proud of him, and I couldn’t be more proud of the team.”

The 2023 Repco Supercars Championship will commence in Newcastle next March.

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