Behind the rise of the Supercars mentor

One by one, Bathurst winners, Supercars champions and veterans are returning to the paddock — albeit in a new capacity.

A series of legendary names have reemerged in recent years in mentoring roles, with several more coming to the fore this season.

The 2026 Repco Supercars Championship began with the youngest ever Supercars grid, at a tick over 27 years of age. While the age of drivers is getting younger, some old heads have been seen in their corner.

Few have been as high profile as four-time Bathurst champion Greg Murphy, who has been key to the rapid development of Ryan Wood from rookie into championship contender.

Mark Winterbottom rejoined Tickford Racing not only as a co-driver, but as a mentor to the Ford team's rising stars in the DUNLOP Series. Garth Tander, meanwhile, has emerged as a leader in Penrite Racing, winning Bathurst with Matt Payne before becoming Team and Driver Advisor.

More recently, five-time Bathurst winner Steven Richards lobbed at Blanchard Racing Team after answering the call from Aaron Cameron.

In recent years, Paul Morris has formed a strong connection to several drivers rising through the ranks, whether that be offering his services through Norwell Motorplex, or being a crucial soundboard to Brodie Kostecki.

More recently, Dean Canto has been mentoring Super2 driver Brad Vaughan as the young South Aussie aims to win his maiden title in Supercars' feeder category.

It all points to a changing of the guard, within a changing of the guard — while many current drivers are established, former drivers have been tasked to keep the next generation on the straight and narrow.

"Greg's been massive. He actually manages me,” Wood said of Murphy earlier this year.

"I've been on the phone to him two or three times today. We speak most days. He’s been one of the biggest influences on my career lately, probably the last three to five years.

“It's been a massive help and especially like those moments, where there's I guess controversy and that sort of stuff. It's just all about leaning on people with experience and good advice, and he has really provided me with that.”

In a racing capacity, Craig Lowndes has been crucial to the development of Declan Fraser, Cooper Murray and Zach Bates, all of whom passed through the Triple Eight wildcard program and into the main game.

Before Lowndes came Russell Ingall, who was a surprise choice to partner a young Feeney in 2021.

It doesn't stop at the driver, though. The energy and experience has flowed into teams, with Murphy, Tander and Winterbottom crucial pillars of knowledge for their respective employers.

“Having Murph in and around our team, particularly Woody, is amazing,” Walkinshaw TWG Racing CEO Bruce Stewart told Supercars.com.

"But don't think it stops with Woody. Murph is such an experienced racer, and he can very quickly cut through in a very distinct Murph fashion, to the core of the issue.

"I love that he's so direct. I love that he's very passionate, but also he's very balanced in understanding in how to make a team work, and also what a driver's impact as a leader of the team is.

“We're very lucky to have Murph around. If he's not up in your grill, there's something wrong. I love that about him.

“He's a legend of the sport as well, and having someone's experience like that around the team is just so powerful for everyone.”

The resurgence of legendary names, ultimately, is to help young drivers become as good as they can be. Think Peter Brock, who was key to turning a young Lowndes from rookie into championship force.

This kind of mentoring isn't about being fast — it's about how to use that speed wisely, as Richards told Supercars.com: “I think it's just more about, when is the right time to hold, when is the right time to fold. And you can only work that out by driving against the good guys at the front of the field."

Additionally, drivers are also being coached how to deal with disappointment, something Wood and Murphy have worked through together through the young Kiwi's high-profile run of outs.

"I think it's just reinforcing the important things, it's also trying to take away from being put on a pedestal as well, because if you want to be successful in the sport for a long time, there's a lot of sacrifices you need to make," Murphy said last year.

"We went through in a very different time, and we've learnt a lot through that process, because the pressure now to perform, and how difficult it is to perform, you've just got to tick all of the boxes, and you've got to put all of the pieces together, and it is so difficult to do.

"So it's a little bit of guidance on just trying to maintain that thinking and not forget it, because if you are not working harder than everyone else, then you're not going to get there."