FROSTY’S CO-DRIVER REVEALED

Bathurst winning combination to re-unite – Photo: LAT

The final piece of the puzzle of Team 18’s ambitious bid to become a Supercars front-runner has been put in place, with a multiple Bathurst 1000 winner signed to partner Mark Winterbottom in the endurance races.

By MARK FOGARTY

AUTO ACTION has learned that reigning Bathurst co-champion Steven Richards will join Winterbottom in the Irwin Tools Racing Holden Commodore in the three-race Enduro Cup.

The pairing reunites Frosty and Richo, who were teammates at Ford Performance Racing (now Tickford Racing) from 2007-2010 and combined to win the Bathurst 1000 in 2013.

It is another coup for Team 18 owner Charlie Schwerkolt, who has mustered heavyweight backing, credentialed senior team staff and a full-on technical alliance with Triple Eight to give Winterbottom the best chance.

Winterbottom and Richards will be a formidable combination in the enduros, which start for the first time at Mount Panorama before moving to the Gold Coast 600 and finishing at the rescheduled Sandown 500 in November.

Richards won last year’s Bathurst 1000 with Craig Lowndes, bringing his Great Race tally to five.

He was left out of the Triple Eight co-driver reshuffle as Lowndes replaced Paul Dumbrell as Jamie Whincup’s co-driver and Garth Tander was signed to partner Shane van Gisbergen.

But being in demand as a competitive co-driver, Richards was quickly signed by Schwerkolt at Frosty’s insistence.

As already revealed by AUTO ACTION, Winterbottom’s move from Ford to Holden with Team 18 has been backed by more sponsorship and increased technical resources.

Guru race engineer Phil Keed has joined, while the Melbourne-based one-car squad will have a closer technical alliance with Triple Eight, including an upgraded ZB Commodore.

The team’s primary backer is Irwin Tools, returning to Supercars after a long absence, along with significant support from Bunnings, ActronAir and Orrcon Steel.

Winterbottom will have his first laps behind the wheel of a Holden in a test at Queensland Raceway today (Tuesday).

His Irwin Tools Racing Commodore will be officially unveiled early next month.

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