How Fraser fits into Roland Dane's PremiAir revolution
Declan Fraser returns to full-time Supercars duties in 2026
2022 Super2 champion last drove full-time in 2023 with Tickford
Fraser and Jayden Ojeda recommended to PremiAir by new Team Principal Roland Dane
Second chances don't come around much in elite sport.
They're especially rare in a Supercars world where only 24 full-time seats are available.
After 817 days, Declan Fraser's full-time hiatus will come to an end at the Sydney 500 next month, when he joins rookie Jayden Ojeda in an all-new PremiAir Racing lineup.
The 2022 Super2 Series champion returns to full-time Supercars duties after an ill-fated year at Tickford in 2023, before spending the last two seasons serving as Andre Heimgartner's co-driver at Brad Jones Racing.
The move comes as PremiAir begin life under new Team Principal Roland Dane, in what is the biggest statement of intent yet for Peter Xiberras' ambitious squad. Dane was instrumental in securing the popular Queenslander's career lifeline.
"It's a bit surreal to be honest," Fraser told Supercars.com.
"I've had a lot of people within the field who have messaged me and sort of said it's it's crazy to get a second opportunity at something like this, especially with how cutthroat our industry is.
"So to get that second chance I guess it's been a long haul. It's been two years of sitting on the sideline praying and trying to convince people put me back in the drive.
"Pete Xiberras said to Roland, 'Who do you think is is gonna be our best shot at moving this team forward?' And he chose Jayden and I.
"I've been speaking to Pete for a very long time and he was in agreeance straight away, so for me and Jayden it's pretty cool to have that backing behind you and the confidence,
"Especially from someone of Roland's prestige, and then also Pete. All he wants to do is go win races."
Fraser's PremiAir opportunity has been nearly a year in the making, with the Gold Coast resident revealing that Xiberras had offered him a Ryco Enduro Cup co-drive last year.
Fraser decided to remain loyal to BJR last year, but wouldn't turn down the full-time offer that came his way. The 25-year-old says that the difference the former Triple Eight supremo has made is already noticeable.
"I had a little bit to do with PremiAir throughout the whole co-driver part of my life in terms of trying to figure out where I wanted to go," Fraser said.
"Pete actually offered me a co-drive last year, but I ended up staying with BJR at the time, so I had sort of seen what PremiAir was about.
"I already loved exactly the culture that they had, and I could see how much Pete wanted to to win races, and then Roland's just come in amplified that.
"The words of wisdom that Roland always has for everyone in the team, it's always trying to group everyone together and getting the best people around. He's such a person to bring a team closer together.
"From an external point of view people always see him as a bit of a hard arse, and he just he says it how it is, and to tell you the truth people need that in our industry. It's so cutthroat.
"The little one percenters matter more than ever, so he's really good at just drilling down exactly what needs to happen and he never does it in a mean, condescending way.
"It's always a building way to put the right people in the right environment to succeed."
A lot has unfolded in the last two years in Fraser's life, both on and off-track, but one thing that hasn't changed is his desire to succeed.
Fraser admitted that he is now a 'more complete' driver entering the second chapter of his full-time Supercars career, and believes that his and the team's journey will carry on into a bright future.
"My mentality about the way I go racing is probably a lot different to what it was in 2023," he said.
"My skills have only increased since 2022, and I feel like I've just got a lot more life experience. I know the way that the game works a little bit more, my race brain is a bit more developed.
"I'm a very strong believer in everything happens for a reason, I think everything that has happened in my career so far has happened for a reason; to be reunited with Roland and also first time with PremiAir, and the people that we've got around us.
"I think that having those people surrounding me and pushing me forward, and helping me develop even more as a driver, I'm coming in more complete than I was in 2022, and I think that that's only gonna help when we get on the track this year."
Fraser makes his full-time return at the Sydney 500 from February 20-22. Tickets for the event, including free entry for the opening race of the season on Friday February 20, are on sale now.
