A FAN-favourite gets redemption, a legend calls it quits and a lovable, small team secures its best ever result in the championship.
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The 2018 Australia Supercars Championship was one for the record books and will be talked about for a long time to come.
Scott McLaughin won his first Supercars title, a fairy tale came to life when Craig Lowndes claimed his seventh Bathurst crown in his last full-time start at the Mount, while Erebus Motorsport proved it could consistently mix it with the big teams.
However, with many changes to the 2019 grid, there are plenty more exciting stories to come next year at tracks such as Bathurst’s Mount Panorama.
Here’s a look at the teams.
Shell V-Power Racing Team
#17 – Scott McLaughlin
#12 – Fabian Coulthard
In 2019 McLaughlin and Coulthard will again pilot Dick Johnson Racing Team Penske cars in what will be their third year together as team-mates.
As the newly crowned champion, McLaughlin should again be a dominant force for 2019.
However, rather than run the number one on his car, McLaughlin will retain the famed #17 in homage to Dick Johnson who, despite winning three championships, also never switched numbers.
The man who has to perform next season is Coulthard. In the final year of his contract, he will need to do better than his ninth in the 2018 championship.
Still, his 2018 campaign could have been better as McLaughlin was at times given better strategies and track position as he pushed for the championship win.
The team, rather like Tickford will also need to get a handle on their new car as the Falcon is no more.
Replacing the Falcon is the Ford Mustang, while next season also marks the return of Ford as a technical partner for the first time since 2014.
Understanding how to get the most out of the car in the shortest time will be critical in their success.
Prediction: Shell V-Power will be championship contenders again, with McLaughlin again getting the better of Coulthard.
READ MORE: McLaughlin claims his maiden Supercars title
Red Bull Holden Racing Team
#88 – Jamie Whincup
#97 – Shane van Gisbergen
Triple Eight returns to garage number one in the pit lane next year after securing its seventh constructors’ championship in eight seasons.
Defending champion Whincup had a tough season by his lofty standards in 2018, recording only four victories, while van Gisbergen remained in contention for the honours up until the final race.
The perennial front runners for the last decade will undoubtedly be at the front of the grid again in 2019.
With Craig Lowndes’ departure, the number 888 will also be missing from the Triple Eight in the garage for the first time since 2003.
Team boss Roland Dane says that the number has not been retired, and will be brought back for the endurance rounds when Lowndes drives again for the team
The question remains though – will Lowndes drive with Whincup or van Gisbergen when he makes his return to Mount Panorama next October?
Prediction: Triple Eight will naturally enjoy plenty of wins in 2019 and will most likely challenge for the title.
Tickford Racing
#5 – Yet to be announced
#6 – Cameron Waters
#55 – Chaz Mostert
#230 – Will Davison
The return of the Mustang will bring great relief to this Ford squad, which has struggled in recent years with the ageing Falcon.
Mostert recorded the best results for the team to finish sixth in the 2018 championship, with Waters, Mark Winterbottom and Richie Stanaway languishing outside the top 10.
After spending 13 years with the team, Mark Winterbottom will join Irwin Tools Racing in 2019. The replacement for him is yet to be named, but is expected that Lee Holdsworth will join Tickford.
Stanaway also leaves the team after just one season, his contract having been terminated.
In another change, 23Red Racing will come under the Tickford banner for 2019, after a somewhat successful first year with Davison.
Davison is returning to the team, previously known as Ford Performance Racing, where he drove between 2011 to 2013.
The Tickford team will be looking to get back to the front of the grid, but learning how to run the brand new car may take some time.
Prediction: Will improve but will just challenge the top 10.
READ MORE: Ford Falcon has its final fling at Bathurst
Erebus Motorsport
#9 – David Reynolds
#99 – Anton De Pasquale
Erebus had a cracker of a year in 2018, with the team securing fourth in the constructors’ championship.
While not being able to win back-to-back Bathurst 1000s – Reynolds having pushed his physical limits too far – the lovable underdogs had their best ever season, in the process identifying a rising star in De Pasquale. He memorably went third fastest in the Great Race shootout.
Reynolds, as always, was mega serious in the car and a larrikin outside it, was impressive.
Erebus will be on it again in 2019 and should continue its onward trajectory to maybe challenge for the drivers’ title.
Prediction: Best of the rest again, with a chance Reynolds will be in contention for the championship.
Mobil 1 Boost Mobile Racing
#2 – Scott Pye
#22 – James Courtney
After having a terrible 2017, Walkinshaw showed signs of brilliance this year, highlighted with Scott Pye’s first Supercars victory at the Australian Grand Prix.
However, as the season unfolded set-up issues cost them valuable points. Pye finished seventh in the championship, Courtney 14th.
Pye is looking like a potential star, he just needs the equipment behind him to perform. The same goes for 2010 champion Courtney as he looks to get back to the front and record more frequent visits to the podium.
With lots of support coming in and a loyal support base surrounding them, the hope is that the car can be up there with the other main Holden squad.
Prediction: A couple of race wins may be on the cards, but not enough to mount a proper title charge.
Brad Jones Racing
#8 – Nick Percat
#14 – Tim Slade
#21 – Macauley Jones
It has been a tough couple of years for the BJR team which has been unlucky in general with crashes, pit lane problems and basic penalties. It dropped from fourth to sixth in the constructors’ championship at the last round in Newcastle.
Still, Percat and Slade have proved they can perform, both being race winners, while the team in general have fast cars.
The team will be welcoming Jones full-time in 2019, replacing the retired Tim Blanchard in the Team CoolDrive entry.
Statistically, it is a cool moment for the Jones family with history repeating itself. Macauley will debut in car #21, the same number that his father Brad debuted with in 2000.
The team just needs a little luck and can show their potential with a few podiums in the 2019 season.
Prediction: Expect more podiums, will be aiming for solid results after a couple of horror years.
READ MORE: Jones steps up to full-time Supercars gig
Matt Stone Racing
#35 – Todd Hazelwood
It was a tough initiation into the main game for Matt Stone Racing. Hazelwood, the 2017 Super2 Champion, rallied hard but struggled for speed all year long and often got caught up in first lap incidents.
However, the team looks forward to a much better package in 2019 with Hazelwood driving Whincup’s car from the 2018 season.
It is early in Hazelwood’s career, and most believe that he can perform better than the team did this year.
Prediction: Should perform better with the faster equipment, and should break into the midfield.
READ MORE: Hazelwood is living out his dream
Kelly Racing
#15 – Rick Kelly
#7 – Yet to be announced
#23 – Yet to be announced
#78 – Simona De Silvestro
Next year the Kelly Racing label returns for the first time since 2012 after Nissan announced the withdraw of its factory support from the team.
Still, 2018 was the team’s best season yet since switching to Nissan, highlighted with a race win at Winton for Kelly and the Castrol Altima.
The Altimas will continue on in 2019, and the squad will be hoping to continue the pace that they were finally able to unlock after a couple of years of searching.
Only Kelly and De Silvestro have been confirmed for next season thus far, with Michael Caruso and Andre Heimgartner yet to announce their plans for 2019.
Prediction: A podium or two depending on what happens in a given race meeting, but they might struggle given the Altimas are now seven-years-old.
Garry Rogers Motorsport
#33 – Garth Tander
#34 – James Golding
SEASON 2018 was one of their worst years in the sport, as Garry Rogers Motorsport really struggled to find their feet.
Tander performed the best of the two, finishing 13th in the championship, with Golding 22nd. The team will also be after a new title sponsor next season, with Wilson Security exiting the sport entirely.
In 2019 team will be hoping to bounce back. They still have a very solid line-up – Tander with his wealth of experience and young Golding, who has talent.
Prediction: A year of improvement, but will be tricky given the quality of the Supercars field.
Tekno Autosports
#19 – Jack LeBrocq
WITH three top 10 race finishes and a 19th placing overall, LeBrocq ended 2018 as the top rookie in the standings for the Tekno outfit.
As he is staying with the team, his experience should allow him to perform better in the new season.
The team was a silent achiever at times, but needs to find more qualifying pace if it wants better in 2019.
Prediction: A similar season for the Tekno Autosports team with good performances from LeBrocq.
Irwin Tools Racing
#18 – Mark Winterbottom
AFTER just one podium in 2018 and placing 12th in the championship, Winterbottom made the tough decision to move to the Irwin Tools Racing Commodore for next season.
After his struggles with Tickford, this bold move could make or break Winterbottom.
He has long been Ford’s poster boy, dating back to when Ford Performance Racing was at the top of the game. Now he will steer a Commodore.
The team are likely to perform better than in their past seasons, as the Charlie Schwerkolt #18 entry becomes a Triple Eight customer for 2019.
Given the strength that Triple Eight has got in its Commodores and the experience that Winterbottom brings to the outfit, this could be a winning partnership.
Prediction: Championship dark horse. A solid top five result.
READ MORE: Winterbottom looks to a bright Holden future