Supercars on track at Winton with new and interesting numbers

By Thomas Miles

Date posted: 7 February 2024

The second Supercars pre-season test day of 2024 has begun at Winton where Victorian teams are getting the chance to cut some laps.

After the Queensland based teams tested on Monday, the likes of Erebus Motorsport, Tickford, Team 18, Brad Jones Racing, Penrite Racing, Walkinshaw Andretti United and Blanchard Racing Team are getting some valuable pre-season running at the “Action Track”.

Every Victorian team aside from Erebus and Tickford have released their race liveries, however, they are running some numbers of note.

Whilst Tickford has run cleanskin liveries for both Cam Waters and Thomas Randle, Erebus has a new paint scheme for testing.

Following the exits of major sponsors including Coca-Cola, the reigning champions are in a completely new look.

Jack Le Brocq in the new look Erebus Motorsport Camaro at Winton. Image: Erebus Motorsport

The front of the Camaros are white, whilst a black design featuring the Erebus Motorsport logo covers the doors.

But what is just as notable is the number seen on Todd Hazelwood’s Camaro with the South Australian substituting for Brodie Kostecki, who will miss the season-opening Bathurst 500.

Although the #1 is only meant to be used by the driver who won the previous year’s championship, Hazelwood is testing with the famous sticker at Winton.

As soon as Kostecki clinched the title on the Saturday of the Adelaide finale, Erebus made its intentions of bringing back the #1 clear.

But with Kostecki missing the Bathurst 500, the regulations state that only he is allowed to use the #1 so it remains to be seen if Hazelwood will use #99 at Mount Panorama with Jack Le Brocq carrying #9.

The #1 has not been seen in Supercars since Jamie Whincup in 2018 with Kiwis Scott McLaughlin and Shane van Gisbergen preferring #17 and #97 respectively.

Erebus’ move is slightly similar to what Dick Johnson Racing did at the start of the 2011 season.

James Moffat racing with DJR’s unique number livery at Yas Marina in 2011. Image: Drew Gibson/LAT Photographic

Having also ended a Triple Eight streak of titles in 2010, DJR tried to get creative with its design despite triumphant driver James Courtney taking the #1 to the Holden Racing Team.

Although Steven Johnson and James Moffat had #17 and #18 on the windows respectively, DJR also had the numbers on the doors with a twist.

There was a major focus placed on the #1 which was far bigger than the #7 and #8 alongside it.

This only lasted one round at the Abu Dhabi season opener before the following round in Adelaide.

Following the downscaling from four to two cars there is also intrigue surrounding what Tickford will do and the Winton test has produced a notable answer.

Whilst Cameron Waters is continuing to use the only number he has ever raced with full time, #6, the number on Thomas Randle’s Mustang points to a big shift.

Thomas Randle testing a clean skin #55 Tickford Mustang at Winton. Image: Supercars

Although Randle has stuck with the #55 he has raced with in both of his Supercars seasons, it may mark the end of an era.

Ever since Tickford joined the sport in 2003 as Ford Performance Racing, the flagship car has usually been the #5.

Aside from 2016 when Mark Winterbottom raced with the #1 as the reigning champion, the #5 has been used by the team on each occasion.

When Tickford last ran two cars Winterbottom and Steven Richards raced with #5 and #6 respectively in 2009.

Testing continues to 17.00 AEDT with fans able to watch at Winton Motor Raceway.

2024 Supercars livery launch season

Walkinshaw Andretti United – #2 Wood #25 Mostert

Blanchard Racing Team – #3 Love #7 Courtney

Brad Jones Racing – #8 Heimgartner #96 Jones #14 Fullwood

Penrite Racing – #19 Payne #26 Stanaway

Triple Eight Racing Engineering – #87 Brown #88 Feeney

Team 18 – #20 Reynolds

Matt Stone Racing – Friday, February 9

PremiAir Racing – Wednesday, February 14

Dick Johnson Racing – Wednesday, February 14

Tickford, Erebus – TBA

Don’t forget the latest issue of Auto Action available via subscription here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ – the only place you’ll get to read the full story. For more of the latest motorsport news, subscribe to AUTO ACTION magazine.

Latest Podcast: “The Cracks” are starting to appear on the Auto Action Rev Limiter

On the latest podcast, we talk about the bubbling issue in Supercars and why we haven’t written anything yet. But we do talk about cracking blocks on the Chev engines.

Listen to our latest episode on your podcast app of choice or here

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Supercars on track at Winton with new and interesting numbers

Whilst Tickford has run cleanskin liveries for both Cam Waters and Thomas Randle, Erebus has a new paint scheme for testing.

Although the #1 is only meant to be used by the driver who won the previous year’s championship, Hazelwood is testing with the famous sticker at Winton.

Erebus’ move is slightly similar to what Dick Johnson Racing did at the start of the 2011 season.

This only lasted one round at the Abu Dhabi season opener before the following round in Adelaide.

Although Randle has stuck with the #55 he has raced with in both of his Supercars seasons, it may mark the end of an era.

2024 Supercars livery launch season

Latest Podcast: “The Cracks” are starting to appear on the Auto Action Rev Limiter

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