Vaughan gets wildcard drive
By Thomas Miles
Date posted: 5 July 2024
Tickford’s Brad Vaughan will get a maiden shot at Supercars thanks to the Matt Chahda Motorsport wildcard in the 2024 enduros.
Just like in 2022, Matt Chahda will be taking a wildcard to Bathurst, but in 2024 the program has been expanded to include the Sandown 500.
On that occasion Chahda shared the ZB Commodore with Jaylyn Robotham and they finished 18th.
In 2024 the #118 Triple Eight Chevrolet Camaro will have Vaughan behind the wheel.
The Tickford youngster is currently representing the famous Ford squad in a second season at Super2 level.
He has shown strong one-lap pace since his debut last year and has enjoyed a consistent start to 2024 with three top six finishes from the four races including a podium at Bathurst.
In his rookie season he took two podiums but was hurt by retirements and a DNS in Adelaide and ended up 12th.
Vaughan shot to prominence in 2022 when he won the Super3 title on home turf in Adelaide after a thrilling season-long duel with Kai Allen.
As he prepares for round 3 of the Dunlop Series in Townsville this weekend, he is boosted by the “dream” of taking on the Great Race becoming a reality.
“Ever since I was a little kid, I wanted to race in the Bathurst 1000,” Vaughan told Supercars.com.
“To do it as a wildcard as well, there’s a little less pressure, but I think we can still go out and get a good result.
“Matt said he wanted someone from Super2, so it’s sort of good we’ve raced each other the last few years, so hopefully we can put that knowledge into the main game. To be doing it will be a ‘pinch yourself’ moment.”
Just like in 2022, Chahda said the intention was to always blood a rookie in and give them a shot at the big time.
“This is going to be our second wildcard, and this time, we get to do Sandown and Bathurst,” Chahda said.
“Last time was a dream come true, and now we’re just really expanding on it.
“I was always searching for a good driver, had to be out of Super2, that was a big thing for me. We’ve spent so long in Super2, that’s where it had to come from, so yeah, I’m happy with the choice.
“Speed’s obviously a big thing, and plus, he has a bit of experience being the Super3 champion, that’s a huge deal. Obviously one of the front pack guys in Super2 at the moment, so that’s where you want to grab them from.
“It’s so special. Our whole family puts it together and puts everything into it. It’s hard to explain really, because you spend so much time working on it, you don’t spend much time really thinking about it.
“Getting our hands on the car, we’ve got a Triple Eight car coming. We only get two test days, so they’re a big deal. We’ve got to be well-prepared for them.”
Image: Thomas Miles
READ THE LATEST ISSUE OF AUTO ACTION DIGITAL HERE
Don’t forget the print edition of Auto Action available via subscription here. For more of the latest motorsport news, subscribe to AUTO ACTION magazine.
Recent Stories
array (
0 =>
WP_Term::__set_state(array(
'term_id' => 11,
'name' => 'Latest News',
'slug' => 'latest-news',
'term_group' => 0,
'term_taxonomy_id' => 11,
'taxonomy' => 'category',
'description' => '',
'parent' => 0,
'count' => 16550,
'filter' => 'raw',
'cat_ID' => 11,
'category_count' => 16550,
'category_description' => '',
'cat_name' => 'Latest News',
'category_nicename' => 'latest-news',
'category_parent' => 0,
)),
1 =>
WP_Term::__set_state(array(
'term_id' => 38,
'name' => 'Supercars',
'slug' => 'supercars',
'term_group' => 0,
'term_taxonomy_id' => 38,
'taxonomy' => 'category',
'description' => 'The Supercars Championship, currently known as the Repco Supercars Championship, is the premier motorsport category in Australasia and one of Australia\'s biggest sports. It originated from the Australian Touring Car Championship (ATCC), which held its first race in 1960 at Gnoo-Blas in Orange, New South Wales. The ATCC evolved over the years, and in 1997, it was rebranded as the V8 Supercars Championship, eventually becoming the Supercars Championship we know today.
Some of the leading drivers in the history of the Supercars Championship include Peter Brock, who is often referred to as the "King of the Mountain" for his nine victories at the Bathurst 1000, a race that is considered one of the biggest in the series. Other notable drivers include Dick Johnson, Marcos Ambrose, Craig Lowndes, Shane van Gisbergen, Jamie Whincup, who holds the record for the most championship titles, and Mark Skaife, who has also been a dominant force in the series.
The Bathurst 1000, held at Mount Panorama Circuit in Bathurst, New South Wales, is arguably the most famous race in the Supercars calendar. Other significant races include the Sandown 500 and the Adelaide 500, which are known for their challenging circuits and thrilling competitions.
The Supercars Championship has grown to become a globally recognized series, known for its competitive racing and passionate fan base. It continues to be a major part of Australia\'s motorsport culture, attracting top drivers and teams from around the world.',
'parent' => 0,
'count' => 5531,
'filter' => 'raw',
'cat_ID' => 38,
'category_count' => 5531,
'category_description' => 'The Supercars Championship, currently known as the Repco Supercars Championship, is the premier motorsport category in Australasia and one of Australia\'s biggest sports. It originated from the Australian Touring Car Championship (ATCC), which held its first race in 1960 at Gnoo-Blas in Orange, New South Wales. The ATCC evolved over the years, and in 1997, it was rebranded as the V8 Supercars Championship, eventually becoming the Supercars Championship we know today.
Some of the leading drivers in the history of the Supercars Championship include Peter Brock, who is often referred to as the "King of the Mountain" for his nine victories at the Bathurst 1000, a race that is considered one of the biggest in the series. Other notable drivers include Dick Johnson, Marcos Ambrose, Craig Lowndes, Shane van Gisbergen, Jamie Whincup, who holds the record for the most championship titles, and Mark Skaife, who has also been a dominant force in the series.
The Bathurst 1000, held at Mount Panorama Circuit in Bathurst, New South Wales, is arguably the most famous race in the Supercars calendar. Other significant races include the Sandown 500 and the Adelaide 500, which are known for their challenging circuits and thrilling competitions.
The Supercars Championship has grown to become a globally recognized series, known for its competitive racing and passionate fan base. It continues to be a major part of Australia\'s motorsport culture, attracting top drivers and teams from around the world.',
'cat_name' => 'Supercars',
'category_nicename' => 'supercars',
'category_parent' => 0,
)),
2 =>
WP_Term::__set_state(array(
'term_id' => 2029,
'name' => 'ZZZ-Email',
'slug' => 'email',
'term_group' => 0,
'term_taxonomy_id' => 2029,
'taxonomy' => 'category',
'description' => '',
'parent' => 2031,
'count' => 7108,
'filter' => 'raw',
'cat_ID' => 2029,
'category_count' => 7108,
'category_description' => '',
'cat_name' => 'ZZZ-Email',
'category_nicename' => 'email',
'category_parent' => 2031,
)),
3 =>
WP_Term::__set_state(array(
'term_id' => 2031,
'name' => 'ZZZ-RSSFeeds',
'slug' => 'zzz-rssfeeds',
'term_group' => 0,
'term_taxonomy_id' => 2031,
'taxonomy' => 'category',
'description' => '',
'parent' => 0,
'count' => 6463,
'filter' => 'raw',
'cat_ID' => 2031,
'category_count' => 6463,
'category_description' => '',
'cat_name' => 'ZZZ-RSSFeeds',
'category_nicename' => 'zzz-rssfeeds',
'category_parent' => 0,
)),
)
