Pither, PremiAir upbeat about final race

Chris Pither and PremiAir Racing will part ways following this weekend’s VALO Adelaide 500, but they both hope to end the 2022 Supercars Championship season on a high.

PremiAir Racing has had everything thrown at them in its eventful rookie season with many highs and lows ranging from driver changes, shootout appearances and heavy crashes.

The team has taken all of the moments in its stride and enters the Adelaide finale with some hope after a promising weekend on the Gold Coast.

Pither has been the only full-time driver to last the entirety of the team’s maiden season, but will not return in 2022 after his departure was announced following the Bathurst 1000.

But he did not let this setback from stopping him record a season best result on the Sunday race of the Boost Mobile Gold Coast 500.

Pither’s car #22 managed to avoid all of the chaos around him to come home P9 and secure his first top 10 finish of 2022 and fourth in his career.

Chris Pither recorded a season best result on the Gold Coast and hopes that form continues in Adelaide. Image: Mark Horsburgh

The Kiwi will continue to carry the popular 1995 Wayne Gardner Coke tribute livery on the Adelaide street circuit this weekend and he hopes to end what could be his final full-time season on a high.

“To have the Adelaide 500 back to finish out our 2022 season is great,” Pither said.

“I can’t wait to see what we can do in the #22 PremiAir Coca-Cola Racing Supercar this weekend.

“We will once again be carrying the retro livery honouring the 1995 Coca-Cola car which has proved quite popular over the last few events, and hopefully we can carry it all the way to a good result for our final event.

“I had a personal best PremiAir Racing result on the Gold Coast, so hopefully we can continue that momentum into this week’s racing and really give our fans something to cheer about to round out the season.”

The sister Subway entry of James Golding has been delivering most of the headlines for PremiAir Racing.

On the streets of Surfers Paradise Golding pushed a special Gold Coast themed Commodore into the Top 10 Shootout, much to the joy of his garage.

James Golding collects the tyre bundle at the Beach Chicane. Image: Fox Sports

But those celebrations quickly turned into commiserations when car #31 was bashed up in the infamous Beach Chicane incident on the Sunday.

Due to the heavy damage, Golding heads to Adelaide armed with a new chassis – 888a-053 – which has winning pedigree at Adelaide thanks to Jamie Whincup winning the Saturday race of the 2020 event.

The young driver has plenty of experience racing on the streets of Adelaide, most notably the scene of his full time Supercars debut at Garry Rogers Motorsport in 2018.

Although the first race did not go to plan being forced to retire after getting tangled up in a Turn 5 incident involving fellow full-time rookies Richie Stanaway and Todd Hazelwood.

James Golding in his full time Supercars debut for GRM on the Adelaide streets in 2018. Image: Dirk Klynsmith / LAT Images

Golding did manage to finish the three Adelaide 500 races he has competed since then and hopes his previous experience can make a difference.

“This will be my sixth time racing at the Adelaide 500, and it is a track at which I have had success previously,” he said.

“I can’t wait to continue our current form, hopefully, and to keep progressing up the grid.

“I am really looking forward to getting to Adelaide – it is one of the best tracks on the calendar and it is fantastic to see it returning to Supercars after a couple of years away.”

The team is also feeling plenty of excitement ahead of the return of the Adelaide 500, despite a busy period since Gold Coast which not only included getting a new chassis ready for Golding, but preparation for Gen3 in 2023.

James Golding will return to his traditional Subway colours in Adelaide this weekend.

“It sure has been a massive year for PremiAir Racing, and we can’t wait to see what Jimmy and Chris can do on the infamous streets of Adelaide,” PremiAir Racing Team Principal Matt Cook, said.

“The buzz around this event is already really ramping up as everyone, drivers, teams and fans alike, are so excited to see it back on the calendar after a few years away.

“The team has been working hard to not only prepare for the 500, but also for next year, and we are looking forward to hopefully seeing that hard work rewarded with strong results in South Australia this weekend.”

The VALO Adelaide 500 commences this Thursday.

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