Why 2019 was make-or-break for Super2 champ

Dunlop Super2 Series champion Bryce Fullwood has revealed he would have stepped away from racing and become a 'normal person', had he not been successful this year.

The 21-year-old from Darwin reunited with his former squad, MW Motorsport, this year to contest his fifth full season in the second-tier category.

Prior to 2019, Fullwood's career-best campaign came with the Nissan squad, finishing 11th in the points in '17, before joining Matt Stone Racing in '18.

A difficult year with MSR that included a mid-season switch from Ford to Holden led the Northern Territorian to rejoin Matt White's operation.

He enjoyed a superb start to the season, claiming two wins and the round honours at the opening event in Adelaide, and continued with good form throughout the year.

Fullwood has finished either first or second in every race except three and has proved to be the benchmark this season, with a worst result of sixth at Sandown.

He finished the year 422 points clear of nearest rival Kurt Kostecki and claimed the ARMOR ALL Pole Champion Award in Newcastle.

It was effectively a make-or-break campaign for Fullwood, who had been unable to breakthrough in his first four years in the feeder class.

"I felt like I was going to be in the best position I could be in and I didn't think anything was going to hold me back this year,” Fullwood said.

"If I wasn't going to be able to make it happen this year, then I was sort of going to go be a normal person.

"It's obviously turned around and all of a sudden in the space of 12 months my future is looking extremely different.

"It just goes to show how much of a team sport this really is and no matter how good you are, you need everyone around you pulling their weight, that's for sure."

Fullwood largely impressed in his PIRTEK Enduro Cup co-driving role for Kelly Racing and is expected to be promoted to the main game next year at Walkinshaw Andretti United.

Despite claiming he has "absolutely no idea what's going on" in 2020, Fullwood says it was important to stamp his authority this year with a successful team.

"I think for me, I knew I was capable, it was more about aligning all the other stars and getting the right car, engineer, support and team around me to try and get the job done," he explained.

"It was really important for me this year to get results.

“I feel like I've been capable for the last couple of years. There's been lots of different reasons and bits and pieces why it hasn't all come to fruition.

“I’m absolutely stoked that it's all come together for us this year.”

He wrapped up the Super2 title at the penultimate round at Sandown, but held off celebrations until the final round.

"I'm always a bit of a realist and I think you're only ever as good as your last race, so for us at Sandown, our last race wasn't that great,” Fullwood said.

"Whilst we sealed the championship, I probably wasn't that happy with my performance and our car’s performance at Sandown in the race.

"I guess then, straight into the main series car, I didn't have a whole lot of time to think about it, but I definitely wanted to come here and go out in style.”

He did just that, taking a win and a second place on the tricky Newcastle street circuit.