MSR, PremiAir Racing key to co-driver market

Matt Stone Racing and PremiAir Racing hold the key to the Repco Bathurst 1000 co-driver market.

Co-driver slots are running out for this year’s Great Race, which will be held on October 6-9.

The race will feature at least 28 cars; 25 full-time entries, and three wildcards.

Red Bull Ampol Racing, Team 18, MSR and PremiAir have yet to confirm their line-ups.

Brad Jones Racing, meanwhile, has yet to announce who will partner Jack Smith.

It was confirmed Wednesday that Triple Eight will announce its wildcard line-up this weekend, all but ending speculation of its full three-car line-up.

Team 18, meanwhile, has yet to assign Michael Caruso to a car; James Golding, who raced for the team in 2020 and 2021, is expected to stay on.

Team 18 is close to locking in its line-up

That leaves the four seats at MSR and PremiAir as the biggest question marks.

MSR team owner Matt Stone expects to have his line-up locked in sooner rather than later.

For Stone, that line-up is likely to feature drivers who have competed in the race before.

“We’re looking at people who have done the 1000 before,” Stone told Supercars.com.

“We don’t want to blood in a rookie at the most important race of the year.

“Our modus operandi has always been looking at young talent, especially in Super2.

“We’re planning on testing after Darwin before Townsville.

“By that point, we’d like to have both co-drivers locked and loaded and participating in a test day.

“We’re working through the final stages of it now to lock it away in the coming weeks.”

Super2 leader Matt Payne has a seat alongside David Reynolds at Penrite Racing.

Zak Best, meanwhile, has a spot locked in at Tickford Racing.

Super2 Triple Eight duo Declan Fraser and Cameron Hill are in the mix for a drive, either in the wildcard or elsewhere.

Given MSR and PremiAir’s ties to Triple Eight, both drivers are likely to complete double duty at Mount Panorama.

Hill tested a PremiAir car at Queensland Raceway this week, as did MW Motorsport driver Tyler Everingham and Carrera Cup young gun Harri Jones.

MSR itself has two Super2 drivers on its books in Aaron Seton and Ryal Harris, although neither driver has a Great Race start to their name.

Tickets are now on sale for this year’s Repco Bathurst 1000.

2022 Repco Bathurst 1000 combinations