Ready and waiting

As the driver market heats up Dunlop Series front-runner Jack Le Brocq has declared himself ready to step up to the Virgin Australia Supercars Championship next year.

And he knows the best way to attract the attention of main game team bosses is to grab the lead of the second tier series at Townsville next weekend from Prodrive Racing Australia team-mate Garry Jacobson. 

Driver movement and the chances of Dunlop Series drivers progressing to the VASC has re-emerged as a hot topic this week after Scott McLaughlin’s confirmation at DJR Team Penske for 2017 and beyond. 

GRM boss Garry Rogers flagged his Dunlop Series driver James Golding as a potential replacement, demonstrating just how much talent there is in the development category.

Another Dunlop Series driver, Kurt Kostecki, will make his Virgin Australia Championship debut in Townsville, stepping into Preston Hire Racing with his own new gen Supercar to replace injured Lee Holdsworth.

He joins a list of three others who have stepped up from the second tier development category for 2016, with Chris Pither and Aaren Russell full-time along with Le Brocq’s PRA team-mate Cam Waters.

Le Brocq feels he is capable of mixing it with the best next year and believes there are options with a large number of drivers off-contract at the end of 2016.

“I would love to be in the main series next year – that’s the goal and we are working towards that now,” Le Brocq told Supercars.com. 

“There is definitely opportunity there – whether it falls our way or not, who knows. 

“There are lots of teams out there with drivers off contract and bits and pieces … so will have to wait and see what happens.” 

While talk has been around established drivers off-contract – with names like Garth Tander, James Courtney and Michael Caruso yet to confirm homes for 2017 – there is talent in the Dunlop Series knocking on the door. 

Last year’s Dunlop Series champ Waters has already garnered an ARMOR ALL Pole Position in his Monster Ford Falcon FG X this season. McLaughlin – who was the most in demand driver in this year’s ‘silly season’ – is also a former Dunlop Series champion. 

Le Brocq is tied on points at the top of the table with Jacobson and is focusing on taking the lead at Townsville. 

“It would be ideal to win both races and walk away with pole as well,” Le Brocq said. 

“We had a good run there last year and the previous year in a Supercar, so hopefully we can covert that again this year.

“I am driving the car a lot better – I feel like I am – so hopefully we can do a better job this year and score some decent points.”

A positive test day earlier in the week was a boost for the 23-year old, who will also suit up during the Pirtek Enduro Cup and pair with Waters.

“It was one of those really great days for us and we had great speed all day,” Le Brocq said of the test. 

“[We] worked on getting my car off the line and few bits and pieces like that so we should be in for a good run in Townsville.”

Le Brocq won all three races at the last event in Perth to recover from a tough start to the season and equal Jacobson. 

Meanwhile, Jacobson is pushing his main game credentials too, recently hiring a manager as he plans his driving future.