Six teammate battles to watch in 2021

The 2021 Repco Supercars Championship will see some new driver line-ups among existing pairings.

There are some intriguing new combinations, with some veterans returning to former teams.

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Dick Johnson Racing, Erebus Motorsport and Team Sydney bring all-new line-ups into the new season.

Triple Eight Race Engineering, Walkinshaw Andretti United, Brad Jones Racing and Team 18 will all field unchanged line-ups.

Supercars.com looks at six head-to-head teammate battles to keep an eye on in 2021.

Red Bull Ampol Racing: Jamie Whincup vs Shane van Gisbergen

These two always garner plenty of attention, with Jamie Whincup and Shane van Gisbergen the two winningest drivers on the grid.

However, with the team finishing 2020 strongly, and with Scott McLaughlin departing for IndyCar, there's little doubt both Red Bull Ampol have a solid chance to be series champion by year's end.

Both drivers had mixed campaigns last year; Whincup will be determined to claim an eighth title after his 2020 chances faded late, while van Gisbergen won four of the last eight races.

Critically, both drivers will have new engineers in 2021, so both will be keen to get up to speed as quickly as possible.

Erebus Motorsport: Will Brown vs Brodie Kostecki

The all-new Erebus line-up for 2021 consists of two rookies, both armed with an equal chance to impress in the main game.

With David Reynolds and Anton De Pasquale leaving, Will Brown and Brodie Kostecki have been tasked with returning the Holden team to the front.

Both drivers combine for just 16 main game starts, but they arrive with impressive CVs, despite being two of the youngest drivers on the grid.

At a recent rookie test at Winton, both drivers claimed they can work together. How long can that dynamic last once Erebus gets its cars working?

Dick Johnson Racing: Will Davison vs Anton De Pasquale

The team at the head of the pit lane will feature an all-new line-up, which consists of two vastly different drivers.

DJR has championship-winning machinery on its side, and two proven winners behind the wheel.

Will Davison returns to DJR, having left the team at the end of 2008. Back then, Anton De Pasquale was only 13 years old. Davison has flourished to become a two-time Bathurst winner, but has bounced from team to team, including the Holden and Ford factory teams.

De Pasquale was an open wheel ace, but at 25, has more than enough to time to carve out a brilliant Supercars career.

Tickford Racing: Jack Le Brocq vs Cameron Waters vs James Courtney

Tickford has revamped its operations heading into 2021, with the Ford team scaling back to three cars.

Despite Lee Holdsworth's departure, Cameron Waters, James Courtney and Jack Le Brocq remained.

Waters was the standout in 2020, finishing runner-up in the series and winning his first solo race.

However, both Courtney and Le Brocq will be snapping at his heels as they return for the second seasons with the Campbellfield squad.

Team 18: Mark Winterbottom vs Scott Pye

Team 18 made big gains in 2020, with Scott Pye impressing to ninth overall, just ahead of new teammate Mark Winterbottom.

Pye overachieved in his maiden Team 18 campaign, claiming three podiums in Darwin. With the team recruiting engineering guru Richard Hollway, expect the two Holdens to move forward.

Winterbottom will also be looking to end a near-five-year winless drought, and won't like playing second fiddle to the resurgent Pye.

Supercars.com has already predicted the team will hit the top step in 2021. Should the team get there, which driver will win the race to the podium?

Kelly Grove Racing: Andre Heimgartner vs David Reynolds

One of the most intriguing line-ups in 2021 will be the rejigged Kelly Grove Racing squad, with former Bathurst winner David Reynolds linking up with Andre Heimgartner.

Heimgartner lines up for his fourth season with the Kelly squad, while Reynolds returns to the team he left in 2011.

Reynolds has been followed from Erebus by long-time engineer Alistair McVean, and hasn't won a race for two years.

Heimgartner, meanwhile, is yet to win a race. Both drivers have incentive to get in front of the other, and armed with new investment from the Grove Group, the Braeside team will be one to watch.

The rest

Chaz Mostert had Bryce Fullwood's measure at Walkinshaw Andretti United, and both are eyeing improved campaigns in 2021.

Matt Stone Racing's two young guns, Jake Kostecki and Zane Goddard, will be pitted against each other in full-time seasons following part-time SuperLite campaigns in 2020.

Nick Percat is expected to lead the Brad Jones Racing charge, although Todd Hazelwood will be looking to add to his maiden pole and podium last year.

Team Sydney, meanwhile, enters 2021 with an all-new line-up, with a motivated Fabian Coulthard joined by Garry Jacobson.

The 2021 season will commence at the Repco Mt Panorama 500 next month. Tickets are on sale now.