Key recruits have DJR 'in a better spot' than last year'
DJR "in a much better spot now than a year ago," says David Noble
Brodie Kostecki claimed three wins and four poles in first DJR season
Super2 champion Rylan Gray joining the team next season
Outgoing Shell V-Power Racing Team CEO David Noble believes a year with star recruits has the Ford squad better placed heading into a new season than it was 12 months ago.
Dick Johnson Racing returned to victory lane in 2025 three times through recruit Brodie Kostecki, who reached the Repco Supercars Finals Series.
2023 champion Kostecki was followed to DJR by Erebus Motorsport engineers George Commins and Tom Moore, with the team also welcoming several more new crew members.
While Kostecki's Finals campaign ended abruptly on the Gold Coast, a return of three wins and four pole positions was admirable given the wholesale change to the team's engineering department.
2025 was DJR's best campaign in the Gen3 era, having won just one race across the 2023 and 2024 seasons. Given the changes made in the last off-season, Noble believes better times are ahead.
“It was an emotional rollercoaster, going from a win on Friday with Brodie Kostecki to frustrating qualifying sessions and then an emotional farewell to Will Davison. But we’ve made good ground this year, no doubt,” Noble said in a Ford release.
“The changes we made at the end of last year, with new mechanics and engineers and driver, have put us in a much better spot now than a year ago. We’ve laid the foundations, made changes, and taken a new direction internally that will lead us to sustainable success."
The team is set for more change in 2026, with Noble departing and Super2 champion Rylan Gray replacing veteran Will Davison, who has since signed an enduro deal with Tickford Racing.
On his own departure, Noble added: “High performance environments are tough and you’ve got to have a challenge, and rise to a challenge. It’s sad that I’ve made the decision to move on, but I’m very excited for the future and thankful for the opportunity to work with an iconic Supercars team.
“I cannot end the year without thanking the crew at our engine shop, Motorsport Powertrains under the leadership of Ryan Medew, for their contribution to the whole Ford Mustang program this year."
Kostecki and Gray will commence their 2026 campaigns in Sydney on February 20-22.
