Blanchard to make Super2 return in Townsville

Tim Blanchard will make his Dunlop Super2 Series return behind the wheel of an Eggleston Motorsport-prepared Commodore at this weekend's NTI Townsville 500.

The former karting and Formula Ford champion finished runner-up to Steve Owen in 2010; that year, he claimed his first Super2 race and overall round wins at the Reid Park Street Circuit.

In the same season, he claimed the Mike Kable Young Gun award.

The Blanchard Racing Team owner was keen to hit the track after a successful test day last week.

“I have been talking to Rachael and Ben since the start of the year about putting a program together for a couple of Super2 rounds in the lead up to Bathurst," the 33-year-old said.

"I need to get some seat time under my belt and this seemed like a perfect way to do that and ensure I am on the money come the Bathurst 1000.

"We had a test at Winton on Tuesday last week and the car was fantastic all day, I had a ball and cannot wait to get behind the wheel in Townsville.”

Blanchard spent five full-time seasons in the Repco Supercars Championship between 2013 and 2017,  and will partner with Tim Slade in his family-owned CoolDrive Mustang in this year's Repco Bathurst 1000.   

Team manager Rachael Eggleston said the team is equally as excited to welcome Blanchard to the Eggleston family.

“It's fantastic to have a driver like Tim with so much experience join the team for a couple of rounds this season," Eggleston said. 

Blanchard Racing Team joined the Supercars grid in 2021

"He will be a great asset for EMS and also for his rookie team mates Matt McLean and Jack Sipp who will be able to learn a lot from him.

"He has been quick in the past at Townsville so we expect it to be no different next weekend when we hit the track.” 

Blanchard will run the #88 entry and will also return to the Super2 grid at Sydney Motorsport Park August 20-22.

The 2021 Dunlop Super2 Series season will resume this weekend at the NTI Townsville 500. Tickets are available here.

The event will be broadcast live on Foxtel and will be streamed on Kayo, and will be broadcast live and free on Seven.