Following the surprise defection of Garth Tander to Grove Racing, Triple Eight Race Engineering has announced a co-driver for reigning champion and Repco Bathurst 1000 winner Shane van Gisbergen.
Tander’s split with the team broke up a partnership, which had won two out of the past three Repco Bathurst 1000s including the first triumph at the Mountain for van Gisbergen. It was completed last October by another victory at the final Repco Bathurst 1000 race for Holden and the Commodore nameplate.
For the upcoming endurance season van Gisbergen will form an all-New Zealand attack as Richie Stanaway joins the title winner in the lead Red Bull Ampol Racing Chevrolet Camaro.
Making his debut during the 2016 endurance events for Super Black Racing, Stanaway took success the next year joining Cam Waters in the Monster Energy Racing Tickford entry where he also starred in the wet at Bathurst.
Moving into a full-time seat in 2018 with Tickford Racing, Stanaway struggled as he did a season later in Garry Rogers Motorsport’s final season in Supercars finishing a best of 24th in his second effort.
A comeback this year thanks to Boost Mobile’s Peter Adderton netted 11th, but it was an impressive result considering he made the Top 10 Shootout after three years away partnering Greg Murphy.
Stanaway was earmarked as a frontrunner to take partner van Gisbergen when Tander announced his move.
“It’s the best possible outcome for me after doing the wildcard programme at Bathurst last year,” said Stanaway.
“To drive for, arguably, the best team in the field with the best driver in the category is the best-case scenario as a co-driver – I can’t ask for much more than that.
“For now, it’s about preparing as best as I can and getting my racing mileage up as much as possible. I’ll continue to do a lot of simulator work to stay sharp – that was the main way I prepared for Bathurst in 2022.
“It was quite a big ask to come back last year and take on the primary driver role, obviously because I hadn’t been racing much over the last three years. It’s given me confidence having done that now and stepping into this co- driver role.
“I want to thank Boost Mobile and [founder] Peter Adderton for their support, as well as Greg Murphy who I drove with last year.
“They’ve been instrumental in getting me back on the right track which has led to this opportunity. I also want to thank the team at Triple Eight for putting their faith in me and giving me this amazing opportunity.”
Van Gisbergen is excited to welcome Stanaway into the fold.
“It’s exciting to team up with Richie this year. It was great to see him come back last year, and he did an awesome job at Bathurst with Murph,” he said.
“This year’s enduro season, especially given the Sandown 500 is back, should give him a chance to get acquainted with the team, a feel for the car and an understanding of how we all work – it’s going to be cool.
“He’s been in some good equipment before as a co-driver and winning Sandown back in 2017. I think with Triple Eight, he has every opportunity to help us get a good result, and I think he’ll be a huge asset for us.
“Richie will attend all of our test days and ride days, and probably a few races throughout the year as well, just to learn how we approach things and become a part of the team as early as possible, so when it comes time to drive he’ll be ready to go.”