'Bring it home': Jones fighting to reclaim Jason Richards Trophy

Brad Jones Racing will always be intrinsically linked to the Jason Richards Memorial Trophy.

From being the third and final team the popular Kiwi raced for in Supercars, to Jason Bright's tear-jerking victory in 2013, to Andre Heimgartner's masterful win at a sodden inaugural Taupō race, BJR have featured in the NZ conversation more often than not.

Indeed, Heimgartner has proven to be one of the form drivers in Taupō, boasting an average finish of 5.8 at the central North Island circuit.

However, the team return to New Zealand this year with an all-new identity, propping up Toyota's assault on the championship alongside homologation team Walkinshaw TWG Racing.

Initial signs have been promising for the Albury squad, taking home eight top 10 finished across the opening two rounds. 12 months ago, they'd only managed five top 10s in the first two rounds, and with an additional car run under the SCT Motorsport license.

However, Heimgartner has been the only BJR driver to snare a top 10 start for BJR this year, doing so for the opener in Sydney. It's worth noting that this has long been a performance gain the team has searched for.

So, after a solid start to the season, where does this leave BJR placed in their quest to recapture the JR Trophy? Team owner Brad Jones was quick to temper expectations post-round in Melbourne.

"I'm not sure we're in a position to take that trophy back to it's rightful home, but we'll see what happens," said Jones on the Cool Down Lap presented by Equip Super.

"It's something that when we go to New Zealand is very high on the radar here at BJR. We went close with Andre, missed out by one, and hopefully we'll get an opportunity to fight hard for it, and bring it home again.

"I think it's its rightful home, to be honest. So we'll see how we go."

The brand-new Toyota GR Supra package is already a podium placer, courtesy of WTWGR young gun Ryan Wood in Race 4 in Melbourne, however New Zealand offers vastly different challenges in it's two-week swing.

Sydney Motorsport Park and Albert Park both provide a mix of high and medium-speed corners, with track surface providing a major point of difference - especially with the emergency road repairs undertaken in Sydney.

However, Taupō has quickly established a reputation a technical, low speed bullring, with overtaking chances limited, and tyre wear particularly brutal, especially on the DUNLOP Super Soft tyre.

Then there's the brand new stop on the tour at Ruapuna Park near Christchurch, which has drawn comparisons from some to old school venues like Oran Park.

Low-end torque and drive traction is known to be a key setup point in Taupō, and will likely translate across to the South Island circuit the following weekend.

Jones believes that the Toyota will once again be in the running for strong results in it's maiden foray across the Tasman, but maintained that the opening stanza of 2026 is all about learning the intricacies of the new Supra.

"I'm thinking we're going to go there and have quite a good run," Jones said.

"They're going to be very different circuits to the first couple that we went to, and New Zealand has been a happy hunting ground for us in the past, I've had more than my fair share of New Zealand drivers.

"I really enjoy it over there, and the people, so I think it'll be good.

"I'm trying to go into the first four events without too much of a preconceived idea of where we should be, because I think it's a new adventure every time we get on the track, so we'll see what happens when we get over there.

"My underlying feeling, though, is any time we're in the top 10 we're doing a very good job."

Heimgartner leads the charge for BJR so far this year, sitting 14th in points ahead of new recruit Hill in 15th, and Macauley Jones in 17th. All three are well within reach of jumping inside the Finals bubble with strong performances in either Taupō or Christchurch.

The inaugural ITM NZ Double Header begins on April 10-12 at Taupō, before moving to the first-ever South Island Supercars round in Christchurch from April 17-19.