Petronas colours return for Townsville

Tim Blanchard will make a Dunlop Super2 Series cameo in Townsville, carrying the same Petronas Motorsport colours he debuted in the main game last month.

The Mercedes Formula 1-inspired look, complete with Valtteri Bottas' #77,  turned heads at the PIRTEK Perth SuperNight, where Blanchard raced as a wildcard.

Brad Jones Racing will apply the livery to one of its VF Commodores for Townsville, fielding the entry alongside that of its regular Super2 runner Jack Smith.

Blanchard raced full-time in Super2 from 2010-12, taking his maiden race and round wins in Townsville during his rookie season, and made his last start in the class in ‘14.

The latest outing will serve as more preparation for the PIRTEK Enduro Cup, where he’ll drive alongside Nick Percat.

Blanchard debuted the Petronas colours in Perth

“I’m looking forward to joining the Super2 grid in the Petronas Motorsport colours at Townsville,” said Blanchard, whose family's CoolDrive Auto Parts is the Australian distributor for Petronas.

“I’ve raced against a few of these guys before, and with many of them being in co-driver positions this year I think it’ll be a lot of fun and undoubtedly competitive. There’s a lot of talent in the group.

“I’ve had success at Townsville in the past; it’s a track I really enjoy racing at.

“The section of kerbs through those final few turns are punishing for the cars, but pretty fun to tackle as a driver.

“I haven’t driven one of the VF Commodores for a while now, so there will be a few little niceties missing from what I’d gotten used to in the ZB.

“The race formats will also be a bit shorter than what I’m used to. For me, it’s all valuable seat time in the lead-up to the Endurance Cup.”

Blanchard’s 2019 schedule also included making his Australian GT debut aboard a Lamborghini earlier this month.