DJR boss sheds light on driver market timeframe
DJR boss sheds light on driver market
Will Davison, Anton De Pasquale off contract
CEO David Noble signals September deadline
Dick Johnson Racing CEO David Noble has shed light on his team’s place in the driver market, marking the end of September as a soft deadline.
The futures of Will Davison and Anton De Pasquale have been key to this year’s silly season, with both drivers off-contract.
Davison and De Pasquale joined DJR in a double-move for 2021, replacing IndyCar-bound Scott McLaughlin and Fabian Coulthard.
DJR now looms as the biggest player in the market, with reigning champion Brodie Kostecki linked to the team.
Davison has long expressed his desire to race on, while De Pasquale is also confident he will be on the 2025 grid, even his places are to be confirmed.
One driver who definitely won’t race for DJR in 2025 is Kai Allen, who despite racing in Shell colours for the 2024 enduros, has already committed to Grove Racing on a long-term deal.
Speaking in Tasmania, Noble said the team has to do its "due diligence" before making a call.
"To be fair, when one of our owners [Brett Ralph] is overseas at the moment, he is back this week, it has been a little tricky just narrowing down some conversations and bits and pieces, Noble said.
"We have just got to do our due diligence. I understand that everybody keeps looking at us, but we have just got to do the right work and make the right decisions and when the time is right, we'll let everyone know."
Following the announcement of his Grove deal, Allen told Supercars.com DJR wasn’t in position to move on contracts, but remained determined to deliver for the team in the enduros.
Noble explained there had been discussions with Allen’s management, but insisted there were “no hard feelings” over the young driver moving to a rival team.
"There was a constant dialogue with myself and Dave Ellis [Allen's manager] in regards to where the timing was," Noble said.
"We just weren't in a position where we could legitimately stall and felt like we had to do the right thing for Kai, if he did have other options. And I had that open conversation with Dave.
"We're happy that we've been able to support him, but slightly disappointed that we couldn't continue that journey, but I'm also excited that he has been able to get into the category.
"There's no harsh feelings from our side of things, we just couldn't commit at the right timeframe for them, and they took the opportunity."
Davison and De Pasquale were 17th and 22nd in Friday practice in Tasmania, with track action resuming on Saturday.
