MSR WANTS SHARE DRIVER OPTION IN 2020

MSR wants driver share option in 2020 – Photo: InSyde Media

Supercars team principal Matt Stone has alluded to the fact that he wants to expand his team to a two car squad as soon as 2020, hinting that he would like to share the car amongst multiple drivers during the season.

By DAN McCARTHY

Currently using split drivers is prohibited, but is being discussed by the Supercars commission and if approved would allow multiple drivers to race in one car throughout the season rather than a primary driver that completes the entire campaign.

“There is definitely ambition of being a two car team, I’d like to say we can do it next year, certainly we are looking at the option but by no means are we locked into anything,” Stone said.

“I believe at the moment, you have a missing step between Super2 and the main game, a program like that (split drivers) I think would help develop drivers.

“Help them get into Supercars at an earlier level with less pressure of a full-time season and easier for a budget to be achieved as well.”

Tickford Racing team principal Tim Edwards suggests that this was the reason the Wildcard system was introduced.

“The whole purpose of the Wildcard brought in a few years ago was to bridge that gap,” Edwards said.

“The commission does recognise that there is a void between Super2 and the main series and I think you’ve seen over the last few years is (wildcards) has worked very successfully.”

Stone argues that the Wildcard system is flawed and that split drivers is the way to grow the grid.

“If you were to run a whole entry with two drivers, I think it gives the young drivers a stepping stone and will get more drivers on the grid in the main game, back to numbers of a few years ago,” Stone explained.

Brad Jones felt that there was a reason that they moved away from the split driver concept a number of years ago.

“The commission has talked about having the drivers split, but personally I think that it is not the right way to go for the category at the moment,” Jones said.

“We made a point of giving the primary driver to the car and I think that is what we should stick to.”

For more of the latest Supercars news pick up the current issue of Auto Action. Also make sure you follow us on social media Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or our weekly email newsletter for all the latest updates between issues.