'I was very comfortable': Golding sheds light on Blanchard deal decision

As the saying goes, change is as good as a holiday - and that’s how a rejuvenated James Golding feels heading into 2026.

After three and a half years with PremiAir Racing, Golding is making the leap to Blanchard Racing Team, a squad just a year older than his former employers.

Throughout his Supercars career, Golding has rarely enjoyed stability, and in turn, arguably has yet to show his full potential.

He completed two seasons at a Garry Rogers Motorsport battling to stay on the grid, going so far as to move on Garth Tander before closing its doors in 2019.

A two year co-driver deal with Team 18 offered promise, but he watched the start of the 2022 season from the sidelines before being parachuted in mid-year to replace the ousted Garry Jacobson.

A series of management and engineer changes ensured PremiAir was never settled, before Golding struck up a partnership with engineer Romy Mayer that delivered the team’s first pole and podium in 2024.

Then, Mayer went on maternity leave, offering another curveball for Golding, who in September, announced his exit from the team, before being revealed at James Courtney’s replacement at BRT. Richie Stanaway was then moved on, PremiAir continuing to swing changes.

So, when the heavens opened in Bathurst last year, the best of Golding was on show, giving BRT a preview of what they have at their disposal should they give him a fast car.

When asked by Supercars.com when he knew he made the right decision, Golding replied: "I reckon it would've been very soon after it was announced.

"I was very, very comfortable with my decision. They say change is as good as a holiday, and I can already feel that.

“I’m feeling a lot of positivity heading into this season. Sure, you don't really know how you're going to go, but everything that we've hoped was gonna happen in terms of piecing every part of the puzzle together has happened so far.”

Golding has already been influential for BRT, helping get Stanaway to the team as his co-driver, with engineer Tony Woodward prized away from Brad Jones Racing.

BRT has been on its own rocky road since expanding to two cars in 2024, but a podium for Courtney last year and a brilliant second half surge by rookie Aaron Cameron suggested Golding is arriving at a team on the up.

Amid a series of changes, the Blanchards are starting to flourish, with Team Manager Kate Harrington and Crew Chief Dennis Huijser at the heart of the Ford squad.

Golding, though, was signed not only for his skills behind the wheel, but also his potential as a team leader - something Courtney provided as BRT gnashed through teething issues through 2024 and 2025.

“The vibe's really good. I’ve been to the shop a few times now and I'm really enjoying working with all the boys and girls there,” Golding said.

“It was their vision, when we first started talking, to come on as a bit of a leader for the team and really try and direct performance in the right direction.

"Obviously they came on very strong towards the end of last year, and I feel like with the knowledge and experience I've got, I can help build on that.”

Of teams on the 2026 grid, only PremiAir and BRT remain winless. Call it coincidence, but Golding could be a seminal figure for both teams, having helped PremiAir to its only pole and podiums to date.

For Golding, it’s important BRT is first to the mark, even if it takes time.

“Look, I'm not saying it's gonna happen overnight, but I also don't think that it should be too long of a process from what I've seen so far, given the things we've got access to the people we've got onboard, Golding said.

“It'll just be about getting as much work done now as we can before Round 1.

"We need to start with getting the basics right, don't overcomplicate things, keep it simple, and then once we really start finding our feet, we can use our experience to probably do our own thing a bit more, I guess you could say.”

All told, BRT is now Golding’s team, the Victorian getting the blessing from the now retired Courtney.

“JC spoke very positively about the team and where it's heading,” Golding said.

“It's gone in leaps and bounds to a couple of years ago, obviously, when they first went to two cars. It’s never easy coming in as a new team and trying to get good people onboard when there's nothing really to show.

“But you get some results here and there and some better people, and it really just snowballs from there. Come Round 1, we're gonna have a really strong team around us.”

Golding will make his BRT debut at Sydney Motorsport Park on February 20-22.