Golding pulls back curtain on shock Stanaway/PremiAir split

James Golding has offered a behind the scenes insight into how Richie Stanaway's sudden split with PremiAir Racing unfolded.

Stanaway entered the team off the back of a promising 2024 campaign that saw Golding claim the team's maiden podium finish at the Penrite Oil Sandown 500, and finish a superb seventh in the points standings.

However, Peter Xiberras' squad haven't been able to build upon that momentum, save for Golding almost pulling off a sensational Bathurst win alongside trusty co-driver David Russell, finishing third after a post-race penalty.

By that stage Golding had already announced his departure for 2026, moving to the Blanchard Racing Team on a multi-year deal. Despite signing what he states was a two year deal, Stanaway was also on the move.

The team announced the signings of Jayden Ojeda and Declan Fraser amid a Roland Dane-led rebuild in 2026, surprising Stanaway. However, after a promising Gold Coast yielded little, the 2023 Bathurst winner's time with the team came to an abrupt halt.

Stanaway was announced to be leaving the team on October 29, with Ojeda announced to be getting an early start with his new team over the remaining two rounds shortly thereafter.

"It was just debrief, and got a call a few days later. 'Thanks for that,'" Golding revealed on the latest episode of the Driver's Only podcast.

It's not the first time Golding has paired with Stanaway through a turbulent season, having partnered the Kiwi at Garry Rogers Motorsport in 2019.

Stanaway's season was punctuated by injury struggles and a sensational mid-weekend benching on the Gold Coast, ultimately retiring at the end of the year. He would later return via an Erebus Bathurst wildcard in 2022.

The enigmatic nature of his career continues to surprise many, including Golding, as well as retirees James Courtney and Nick Percat who also appeared on Driver's Only.

Said Golding: "He's had one season with each team, and it just ends."

Percat then replied: "And he gets going come about this point of the year. Every time."

Courtney, who like Stanaway trod the pathway to Formula 1 before shifting back to Australia, added: "That's one guy, and you've (Golding) worked closer with him, but from the outside and his history and all that stuff, the guy is an amazing talent.

"But he's never had the chance to, or he's had the chance, but he's just never got it together at the end."

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