Winterbottom reveals PremiAir, BJR talks

Mark Winterbottom has opened up on talks with PremiAir Nulon Racing and Brad Jones Racing, as he looked to extend his full-time career into 2025.

Winterbottom will transition into co-driving next season, signing a deal with Tickford Racing to partner Cam Waters.

It comes after Winterbottom was told he wouldn’t go around with Team 18 in 2025, with the team replacing him with Anton De Pasquale.

At the time, Winterbottom faced the prospect of missing out on a full-time seat in 2025, given there were just four rounds left in 2024 to make an impression.

“There were potential opportunities, but everything is complicated. I was left late in the piece, that was the problem,” Winterbottom told the Rusty’s Garage podcast.

“Said no to a lot of people, effectively. Not a lot of people, [but] options, because I was done, I was like, ‘I’m not even on the table’.

“So, when I did become ‘on the table’, other things had already gone. There was potential, but at the same time I want to win, and you want to race to win.”

At the time, there was a seat at PremiAir Nulon Racing, which was eventually filled by outgoing Penrite Racing driver Richie Stanaway.

“I think PremiAir will be a really good seat and I’m actually happy for Richie, because I like Richie anyway,” Winterbottom said.

“It’s awkward when you’re kind of, not battling for a seat, but... I think they’ve chosen well there. I really enjoy chatting to Pete [Xiberras, team owner] too, he’s a really good guy.

"I genuinely hope they do well because I like Richie and I liked Pete. I think that’s a good fit. I would have done a good job there but they’ve done well.”

Winterbottom said there was a "waiting game” at BJR, which will return with an unchanged four-driver line-up next season.

“Brad was a really good guy to chat to too,” Winterbottom said.

“But sometimes you’ve got to look at it, what are you hanging onto? What are you doing? How can you change it? Can you contribute to it? All that sort of stuff.”

The Tickford opportunity was too good to pass up, Winterbottom adding: "It feels right. Sometimes you’ve got to do what’s right. It feels good, it feels really good.

“There were options but they were all time-waiting ones and I didn’t want to miss the opportunity. It just felt right, so you’ve got to do what’s right.”