Supercars Enduro Season Sees Notable Co-Driver Absences and Fresh Faces
The 2024 Supercars Championship is gearing up for its endurance season, and with it comes a significant shift in the co-driver lineup. This year, fans are noticing some notable absences among the co-drivers, alongside an influx of new talent. As the Sandown 500 approaches, the grid showcases a blend of veteran experience and emerging stars, but it's the missing names that are making waves.
One of the biggest changes is the absence of Alex Davison, a familiar face in the endurance races and a 19-time Bathurst veteran. Davison's seat alongside his brother Will at Dick Johnson Racing has been taken by 19-year-old Kai Allen. Allen, who made his debut with the team last year as a wildcard, is now stepping up as a full-time co-driver. Another notable absentee is Tim Blanchard, who has stepped back from driving to focus on his Blanchard Racing Team’s expansion. Rookie Aaron Cameron will now fill the CoolDrive entry, bringing fresh energy to the team.
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Similarly, French driver Kevin Estre was expected to return to Grove Racing but will miss out due to a scheduling conflict with the World Endurance Championship. His spot has been taken by Dale Wood, a former Brad Jones Racing driver. With Estre's absence, the endurance field is left without international representation, apart from the New Zealand drivers.
The shuffle extends beyond established names. Zane Goddard, Jake Kostecki, and Simona De Silvestro, who appeared in wildcards last year, are also missing from this season’s lineup. Cooper Murray replaces Goddard at Triple Eight, while Kostecki and De Silvestro have been replaced by other drivers in their respective teams.
This season's rookie co-drivers include Aaron Cameron (Blanchard Racing Team), Cam McLeod (PremiAir Racing), Cameron Crick (Matt Stone Racing), and Brad Vaughan (Matt Chahda Motorsport wildcard). Scott Pye, Todd Hazelwood, and Declan Fraser, who were primaries last year, are now taking on co-driver roles, while Richie Stanaway, Aaron Love, and Jaxon Evans have transitioned to primary drivers.
Not to be overlooked is the departure of reigning Bathurst 1000 winner Shane van Gisbergen, who now competes in NASCAR. His absence, alongside Jack Smith, marks a significant shift in the endurance field.
As the Supercars Championship heads into the Sandown 500, the landscape of co-drivers is markedly different from previous years. With new faces filling old roles and veteran names missing from the grid, the 2024 endurance season promises to be both unpredictable and exciting.
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