Why Blanchard is stepping back from co-driving duties
By Thomas Miles
Date posted: 9 July 2024
For the first time since 2010, Tim Blanchard will not be driving in the Great Race as he steps back to focus on BRT and give youngsters a shot.
Even since starting up BRT as a standalone operation in 2021, Blanchard has still performed co-driving duties in the enduros in the flagship #3 CoolDrive Mustang with Tim Slade and then Todd Hazelwood.
But for 2024 he will focus on the race team and the CoolDrive business, providing an opportunity for Aaron Cameron to get a long-awaited shot for Supercars.
Cameron has been a star of TCR since its inception with seven wins and 27 podiums, while he also won S5000 last year and first appeared on the national scene back in 2017.
Still only 24, Cameron, who has almost a year of Super2 under his belt, will make his Supercars debut alongside fellow youngster Aaron Love in the #3 at the enduros.
BRT’s John Blanchard revealed Tim felt the time was right with the race team and CoolDrive business taking up too much time to properly prepare for the biggest races of the year.
“He (Tim) just wasn’t happy being a bit off the pace last year and made the call because he is struggling with time being extremely busy running the team and CoolDrive,” John told AUTO ACTION.
John continued stating the signing of Cameron is further proof of BRT’s commitment to giving youngsters a shot at Supercars.
In addition to last year’s wildcard and now full time program with Love, part of the team’s expansion to two cars has been bringing on lots of new personnel who are new to the pinnacle of Australian motorsport.
“The whole point of the team is giving the young guys a go,” Blanchard said.
“Neither of the Aarons are paying anything for their drive and are both being paid. We are just trying to give them an opportunity they have earned.
“We have full confidence they will do a great job in the enduros.
“We want to try and build the team with a lot of first year engineers, managers, mechanics that have never done Supercars before.
“A third of the team has never done Supercars before and we are just trying to get good people and build our own identity.”
Whilst it will be a 14-year first Tim will not be racing, the Blanchard name will still be front and centre in the enduros as BRT aims to continue its progression.
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