How Stanaway deal could be a masterstroke by BRT
Blanchard Racing Team signed Richie Stanaway to 2026 enduro deal
Stanaway to race alongside BRT recruit James Golding at The Bend, Bathurst
Stanaway won 2017 Sandown 500, 2023 Bathurst 1000 as a co-driver
While Stanaway has experienced a stop-start full-time Supercars career of his own, the New Zealander has flourished as a co-driver.
Stanaway won the 2017 Sandown 500 with Cam Waters and Tickford Racing, and the 2023 Bathurst 1000 with Shane van Gisbergen and Triple Eight.
He also finished second in the 2017 Gold Coast 600 opener with Waters, and third in the 2023 Sandown 500 with van Gisbergen.
BRT has been making clear strides since expanding to two cars in 2024, and the results have improved dramatically. James Courtney claimed the team’s first podium in May, before both cars surged in the second half of the year.
Notably, Aaron Cameron challenged for the minor positions in Bathurst, reached a Gold Coast Shootout, and stunned to second in the Adelaide Saturday Shootout before leading the opening laps.
While renewing Cameron was reward for the rookie, BRT wanted a senior driver to replace the retiring Courtney. They got one in Golding, who put in his best Supercars performance to date in Bathurst, where he finished third after crossing the line in first.
Given Golding's hunger, his existing relationship with Stanaway, the Kiwi’s enduro form, and incoming Triple Eight technical support, BRT has the ingredients to hit the jackpot in 2026.
“I’m really excited to be teaming up with Richie for the 2026 Enduros. We have been teammates a number of times in the past, but usually racing against each other rather than sharing a car,” Golding said.
"Over that time we have built a strong relationship and a good understanding of how each other works, so teaming up feels like a very natural fit.”
Golding and Stanaway were teammates at Garry Rogers Motorsport in 2019, and at PremiAir Racing this year. Amid a rocky season, both drivers impressed at Bathurst, before Stanaway departed after the Gold Coast.
Stanaway made it clear he wanted a competitive co-drive for 2026 after parting ways with PremiAir. Signing for BRT is a "really good fit" for Stanaway, who believes working with Golding gives them a “real advantage."
A Golding/Stanaway result could also inadvertently sting PremiAir, which moved on Stanaway and let Golding depart for BRT, just weeks before his Bathurst breakout.
“BRT is a team that’s clearly building in the right direction and feels like a really good fit for me,” Stanaway said.
"Jimmy had a good crack at the Mountain this year, and having been teammates all season, knowing how each other drives and what we want from the car gives us a real advantage. "
I’m looking forward to getting started and seeing what we can achieve.”
