New names called up to Supercars drivers association
New names called up to Supercars drivers association
Thomas Randle, Cooper Murray join incumbent Andre Heimgartner
Chaz Mostert, Cam Waters step back from drivers group
Some new names will take the reins of Supercars’ drivers association, following a meeting on the eve of the ITM Taupō Super 440.
Introduced in 2023, the association was inaugurated to represent the collective interests of the Supercars grid, and have better communication with race officials.
The first group members were Chaz Mostert, Cam Waters, Shane van Gisbergen and Will Davison. Andre Heimgartner later replaced van Gisbergen.
With Davison moving on from full-time driving, and Waters recently becoming a father, the group has undergone changes. Mostert and Waters have stepped back, with Tickford Racing’s Thomas Randle and Erebus Motorsport’s Cooper Murray stepping in. Brad Jones Racing driver Heimgartner remains.
Thursday’s meeting was an open forum, with Gold Coast chicanes and the new Ruapuna circuit in Christchurch among talking points.
“There’s a good spread there — a guy that has been there a while in Andre, a very articulate guy like Thomas, and a young bloke to show them there's a bit more that goes on behind the scenes,” Motorsport Australia Driving Standards Advisor Craig Baird told Supercars.com.
“It was a great chance to have a chat. We discussed some ideas moving forward, because I like to include them.
"There's nothing worse than just handing them the new piece of paper saying this is how it's going to work. It was a think tank, we had a few laughs."
Away from Thursday’s meeting, drivers still must attend the official Competitor’s Briefing, typically held after Friday practice at each event.
The drivers group aims to help officials with solutions, not just highlight problems, whilst all drivers are also in a WhatsApp group. Unlike formalised player bodies such as the AFL Players Association, however, the Supercars drivers association is focused only on regulatory matters.
The drivers group was borne out of the 2022 Gold Coast 500, where drivers united in a bid to have the chicane kerb policing method altered.
Taupō track action commences on Friday.
