State of play: Confirmed co-drivers for 2022

The 2022 Repco Supercars Championship grid is complete, but there are still plenty of co-driving slots available.

There are eight months until the Repco Bathurst 1000.

This time last year, 10 co-driving slots had been filled. In the same week in 2022, just six co-driving slots have been filled.

Team 18 and Brad Jones Racing have Michael Caruso and Dale Wood on the second year of their respective two-year deals.

On Friday, Erebus Motorsport confirmed Jack Perkins and David Russell will return for a second season.

Russell finished third alongside Brodie Kostecki last year, marking both drivers' maiden Bathurst podiums.

Elsewhere, Grove Racing has flagged Matt Payne and Matt Campbell as the team's 2022 co-drivers.

2017 Bathurst podium finisher Fabian Coulthard will be key to the co-driver market, having departed Team Sydney in the off-season.

There are some big names floating around, such as Luke Youlden, Zane Goddard and Earl Bamber.

A swathe of young Super2 drivers will also be hoping to make their presence felt.

So, where does that leave everyone else?

Red Bull Ampol Engineering

The retirement of Jamie Whincup and arrival of Broc Feeney creates a ‘three-into-one’ situation for Triple Eight.

The team fielded Garth Tander with Shane van Gisbergen for a third season in 2021, with Craig Lowndes alongside Whincup.

Will Tander stay with van Gisbergen? Will Whincup partner Feeney, or will the team again field a wildcard as it did last year?

Shell V-Power Racing Team

McLaughlin won the Great Race in 2019

The door is open for Scott McLaughlin to make a Bathurst return.

International borders reopen in late February, and the IndyCar season ends four weeks before Bathurst.

Alex Davison was called up to replace McLaughlin alongside younger brother Will in the #17 last year.

Tony D’Alberto partnered Anton De Pasquale last year, and has been with the team since 2016.

Could Coulthard make a shock return to the DJR fold as a co-driver, having left the team in 2020?

Tickford Racing

Tickford enters 2022 with a strong suite of drivers, with Cam Waters and James Courtney joined by Thomas Randle and Jake Kostecki.

Tickford is effectively after three new co-drivers should it retain James Moffat.

Randle was Courtney’s co-driver in 2021, so both drivers need a partner.

Kostecki arrives and needs one too, having combined with brother Kurt at Matt Stone Racing last year.

COVID-19 restrictions prevented Alex Premat from racing with the team in 2020 and 2021, with Zak Best making his debut in his place last year.

Team 18

Caruso is locked in, leaving one spot to fill at Charlie Schwerkolt’s team.

James Golding impressed for the team in his time at Team 18, and has been keeping sharp in other categories.

Scott Pye enters 2022 with a new engineer, and a decorated one at that. So whatever route Team 18 decides to go, it could be very strong.

Walkinshaw Andretti United

WAU pulled a rabbit out of the hat last year when it paired Lee Holdsworth with Chaz Mostert following the former’s Tickford exit.

It paid dividends, with the duo dominating the Great Race. Nick Percat also arrives, making for a blockbuster full-time line-up.

Warren Luff has been in the Walkinshaw fold since 2014, with free agent Coulthard also a previous Walkinshaw driver.

A report through the week also linked Moffat with Mostert, the pair having combined between 2018 and 2019.

Brad Jones Racing

Wood is confirmed, but the team is on the lookout for a new co-driver after Chris Pither sealed a full-time return with PremiAir Racing.

Dean Fiore and David Wall raced for BJR last year in Bathurst, with Ash Walsh a late withdrawal.

There will be a higher price on co-drivers for 2022 with Andre Heimgartner and Bryce Fullwood both arriving.

Matt Stone Racing

Jack Le Brocq and Todd Hazelwood arrive, and MSR has also yet to confirm its Bathurst line-up.

It was the last team to do so in the weeks leading to the 2021 race, with Jayden Ojeda and Kurt Kostecki the team’s choices.

MSR has Aaron Seton in its Super2 line-up, and another driver is expected to be named soon.

Grove Racing

The Grove squad has already flagged its intentions to run Payne and Campbell in 2022.

Campbell was a late replacement for Earl Bamber last year, and the team has made no secret in fast-tracking Payne’s tin-top career.

PremiAir Racing

The newest team on the grid needs two co-drivers for Pither and Garry Jacobson.

Former team owner and 2016 Bathurst winner Jonathon Webb raced alongside Coulthard last year. Dylan O’Keeffe shared with Jacobson.

Blanchard Racing Team

Team owner Tim Blanchard was strong alongside Tim Slade in 2021.

Don’t expect this combination to change should Blanchard aim at making more Super2 starts in 2022.

This year's Repco Bathurst 1000 is slated for October 6-9.

The 13-event 2022 Repco Supercars Championship will commence in Sydney in March. CLICK HERE to purchase your tickets.