Tickford Autosport signs latest rising star

Tickford Autosport has unveiled Victorian James Lodge as the latest addition to their young driver ranks.

Lodge has been announced to join the Tickford Driver Development Pathway Program, aimed at developing rising stars joining the Tickford Autosport Super2 and Supercars wildcard program.

Having impressed in karts both nationally and internationally, Lodge was a standout in the 2024 Toyota GR Cup with Tickford-aligned Ash Seward Motorsport, winning four races on route to second.

Lodge stayed with ASM to finish sixth in last year's Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge with two wins, and is competing part-time in Sprint Challenge this year for former Team 18 co-driver Harri Jones' team.

In December he was handed a test of Tickford's Super2 Mustang piloted by Lochie Dalton to second in the 2025 DUNLOP Super2 Series.

The deal will see Lodge shadow the Super2 team at a Winton test day on Tuesday, before turning laps towards the end of the day. He will also join the team both in the workshop and at remaining Super2 events.

Tickford have also signalled intentions for Lodge to step up full-time to their Super2 program.

"I’m extremely excited to be joining Tickford Autosport. It’s a fantastic opportunity to be able to work with such a high level team - arguably the top team in the DUNLOP Series," said Lodge.

"The team's success last year and throughout this year in the Series has been outstanding, so to be able to learn as much as I can from those guys and also the main game boys, Tom, Cam and Frosty, will be incredibly valuable for me in my development as a racing driver.

"I’m extremely grateful to everyone at Tickford, I’m super excited to get to work this year, continue learning and work towards building a future career as a Supercars driver."

Tickford Director of Motorsport, Rod Nash, added: "James is an incredible young talent, and we are really excited to welcome him to the Development Program and Tickford Autosport.

"Our team has done an incredible job over the years identifying talented athletes that work with the team in the hunt to become a full time Supercars driver, and todays announcement is no different to that.

"There's no doubt that James belongs in this program, as a homegrown talent, we see him going very far in the sport and we look forward to supporting his pursuit for a main game seat."

Lodge joins Super2 drivers Reuben Goodall, Nash Morris, Ben Gomersall, and Campbell Logan in the Autosport stable.

The Super2 quartet are next in action for Round 3 of the 2026 DUNLOP Super2 Series in Perth from July 31-August 2.