Opinion: Why silly season represents the continued changing of the guard

It mightn't be a silly season that has seen blockbuster moves at the top of the Supercars pile, but it still could be one of the most important silly seasons we've seen.

Whilst the likes of Red Bull Ampol Racing and Tickford Racing moved to secure their long-term line-ups in the early stages of silly season, and the likes of Penrite Racing and Walkinshaw Andretti United were locked in in advance, for teams further down the order, it offered a chance to refresh.

This has undoubtedly been promoted by what the big teams in the lane have done. Think of the gambles taken on Broc Feeney, Matt Payne, Ryan Wood, and Kai Allen. All of them are now fighting for a championship.

It's plain to see what the overarching strategy has been. The shift to generation next will continue in vogue.

Take PremiAir Racing for example. 29-year-old James Golding and 33-year-old Richie Stanaway are on their way out at the end of the year, with 26-year-old Jayden Ojeda and 25-year-old Declan Fraser stepping in.

PremiAir will enter the new year with a driver line-up that is 11 years younger than their current combination of Golding/Stanaway. However, that will be balanced out by the centrepiece acquisition of Roland Dane as Team Principal.

They won't be the only ones to lob a heap of years off their driver line-ups, with Golding replacing the retiring James Courtney (45) at Blanchard Racing Team. With just one driver movement, BRT have a driver 16 years younger than their previous star.

As latest developments would have it, Matt Stone Racing, SCT Motorsport, and Erebus Motorsport will also be promoting youth into 2026.

After a stunning debut outing in the Ryco Enduro Cup, Jobe Stewart is thought to have the inside running to secure a full-time Erebus promotion in place of Jack Le Brocq. Stewart is 12 years Le Brocq's junior.

Another who has impressed in limited main game appearances has been Triple Eight wildcard Zach Bates, who has been linked to MSR alongside the recently confirmed Le Brocq. The 21-year-old would do the heavy lifting in a line-up that's 11 years younger.

Two more rising Super2 stars are in the headlines, with 22-year-old Jackson Walls claiming the highly fancied seat at SCT's new venture with Triple Eight. 18-year-old series leader Rylan Gray was initially linked to the drive, but could yet find himself on the grid elsewhere. Both are younger than the outgoing Jaxon Evans, who is 29.

The crop of talent coming through the Super2 ranks continues to get younger and younger, as the Toyota GR Cup continues to produce teenagers who make the next step into Super2 well before they hit their 20s.

Another to keep an eye on is 17-year-old Alice Buckley, who has been working on sealing a Super2 deal for 2026, and is another to come through Paul Morris's Norwell Motorplex ranks.

However, despite all of the shifts towards youth, it's worth sparing a thought for a beloved veteran who has bucked the trend. After months of conjecture and speculation, Team 18 decided to maintain their driver line-up, with Charlie Schwerkolt's operation exercising an option on 40-year-old David Reynolds. The next race? Reynolds put in what was by far the drive of his season, finishing second at the Repco Bathurst 1000, and just 0.9s short of one of the greatest Great Race upsets.

The last 10 years have seen some of the all-time greats of the sport retire; Craig Lowndes, Jamie Whincup, Mark Winterbottom, the brothers Kelly, just to name a few. Courtney and Percat now join that list.

Scott McLaughlin and Shane van Gisbergen, now aged 32 and 36, are former champions plying their trade in IndyCar and NASCAR.

Reynolds and Will Davison are now set to be the only drivers aged 40 or older on the grid next year. The driver next in line to take over as the oldest driver on the grid? 33-year-old Chaz Mostert. Who saw that coming?

The next generation has been taking over the sport over recent years, and this silly season is further proof that the shift towards youth is only gathering momentum as the likes of 23-year-olds Feeney and Payne become the sport's superstars.

And now, the generational shift is almost complete.

The views in this article do not necessarily express the opinions of Supercars, teams or drivers.