Rating the off-season driver movements

The off-season was busy in terms of driver movements, and those that did move teams carried a lot of promise.

Five drivers moved teams year-on-year amid an off-season of change, which also featured the return of Richie Stanaway and the introduction of three rookies in Ryan Wood, Jaxon Evans and Aaron Love. Then, there was Todd Hazelwood, who did a sterling job in substituting for champion Brodie Kostecki at the first two rounds.

Who has delivered? Supercars.com assesses the early season form of the five full-time drivers who hoped a change of scenery would deliver an upswing in performance.

Will Brown

After four rounds in 2023: 2nd

After four rounds in 2024: 1st

Will Brown was under pressure to fill Shane van Gisbergen's shoes, but he has unquestionably delivered in his move from Erebus Motorsport, with the Queenslander leading the championship over new teammate Broc Feeney. Brown leads Feeney 7-3 in their race head-to-head. At this stage last season, Brown was second behind then Erebus teammate Brodie Kostecki, with three wins. The key for Brown is keeping the momentum going — he also has three wins this year, but his championship charge fell apart after taking the lead in Townsville.

Nick Percat

After four rounds in 2023: 24th

After four rounds in 2024: 6th

Nick Percat had a torrid time at Walkinshaw Andretti United, but has powered back to life with Matt Stone Racing. In four rounds, Percat is already a race winner, and is a staggering 16 positions better off versus this time last year. Percat has battled with one-lap pace this season, but has been a revelation in races, and should be a comfortable fourth overall had he not been caught out in recent rounds.

David Reynolds

After four rounds in 2023: 8th

After four rounds in 2024: 13th

David Reynolds’ multi-year deal with Team 18 got off to a promising start in Bathurst in February, leaving the Mountain in the top five overall. However, recent rounds haven’t been kind to Team 18, despite Mark Winterbottom taking a podium at the Grand Prix. Reynolds had a pole and two podiums to this stage last year, his final with Penrite Racing.

Jack Le Brocq

After four rounds in 2023: 10th

After four rounds in 2024: 14th

Jack Le Brocq was one to watch in the early rounds of 2023 with Matt Stone Racing, taking eight top 10s in his first 12 races before winning from pole in Darwin. He sealed a move with champions Erebus for 2024, and carried on with the same consistency in the opening rounds. However, Perth hurt Le Brocq and Erebus, with the #9 suffering an issue in the first race before contact with Nick Percat in the finale. Finishes of 23rd and 20th dropped Le Brocq to 14th overall — one round earlier, he was within striking distance of fourth.

James Courtney

After four rounds in 2023: 20th

After four rounds in 2024: 17th

After four seasons with Tickford Racing, the 2010 champion signed with Blanchard Racing Team as it expanded to two cars. Never one to shy away from a battle, James Courtney has managed two top 10s through 10 races with BRT, which is also fielding rookie Aaron Love. Courtney is three positions better off versus 2023. However, Courtney’s early rounds of last season were an absolute rollercoaster, headlined by a Shootout crash in Newcastle and fire in Melbourne — both followed by a DNS — and a podium in Perth.