BJR 2024 season review: A big high amid confusing season
As 2024 winds down, Supercars.com is looking over all 11 teams and their performances in this year's Repco Supercars Championship, continuing with Brad Jones Racing.
What to make of season 2024 for Brad Jones Racing? The team had two cars bring home trophies for the first time since 2020, Andre Heimgartner claimed his first win for the team on home soil, yet they only finished ninth and 12th in the teams' standings.
After a stellar opening campaign to the Gen3 era in 2023, hopes were high for the Albury-based squad heading into 2024, with global GT ace Jaxon Evans joining full-time.
However, after a solid start to the season at the Bathurst 500, it quickly fell apart for BJR, with a lack of one-lap pace in qualifying becoming the story of their season.
Despite that, Heimgartner's emotional home win in Taupō was one of the drives of the season, and a reminder of the 29-year-old's wet weather prowess.
It was Tasmania, however, that was the real turning point for BJR, with both Heimgartner and Bryce Fullwood displaying much improved one lap pace. Fullwood capitalised with a podium on Sunday, whilst the Kiwi carried his improved form through to Adelaide.
It was a struggle on the other side of the garage as well. Macauley Jones was one of only two full-timers who didn't record a top 10 finish this season, and whilst Evans showed some really promising signs through the year, a massive Adelaide crash and concussion was a sour note to end on.
Brad Jones Racing: 2024 season results and head-to-heads
Drivers' finish: Andre Heimgartner 10th, Bryce Fullwood 18th, Macauley Jones 22nd, Jaxon Evans 23rd
Teams' finish: Heimgartner/Fullwood 9th, Jones/Evans 12th
Best result: 1st (Andre Heimgartner, New Zealand Race 7)
Qualifying head to head: Andre Heimgartner 16, Bryce Fullwood 7, Jaxon Evans 1, Macauley Jones 0
Race head to head: Andre Heimgartner 14, Bryce Fullwood 7, Jaxon Evans 2, Macauley Jones 1
What’s next in 2025?
With much reduced testing for 2025 and multiple tyre compounds being used on Saturdays at Super440 events, rolling out of the truck on the money will be crucial.
That is something that BJR didn't do in 2024, and is also something that can not be repeated if they want either of Heimgartner or Fullwood to be fighting back where they were in 2023 towards the pointy end.
Championship finishes of 17th, 11th, and 18th in his three seasons in Albury don't make for great reading for Fullwood's tenure at BJR, and another lowly position in the standings could have the Territorian looking over his shoulder, especially after the sterling performances of enduro recruit Declan Fraser.
Jaxon Evans is also a curious one to watch for next year. Although he got the SCT Logistics entry into positions it had rarely been before, his season-ending crash at Adelaide could very well have dented his confidence.
Heimgartner can be fully expected to lead the charge for Brad Jones' boys once again in 2025, but his season could once again be dictated by his one lap pace.
As is the case for so many teams up and down pit lane, if BJR can solve their qualifying problems next year, then Heimgartner in particular will benefit. An 'Angry Andre' could ruffle some feathers if he makes the Finals in 2025.
