Silly Season 2026

[stevo qld]

I still have difficulty in seeing any reason GM would want to spend any additional money with no apparent commercial benefit.

[skaifeman]

Who drives at BRT next year?

Maybe Reynolds could do a retirement tour as well .

[muz]

Who drives at BRT next year?

Maybe Reynolds could do a retirement tour as well .

Might be a better seat than Team18...but then again, I think it is well documented that I have no love for that team or their leader.

[AlbertM]

A month later and Premiair still not committed?   

Yeah, but they can always hold their cards, Albert.  I mean, they already have the RECs.  It is not like they are trying to break into the series with any manufacturer.  Negotiating for the best future I reckon. 

I think Richie's future might be in doubt, though.

GM aren't playing the game that most think they are.

do tell..

GM are treading water. They are not actually trying to rebuild from the loss of T8. KRE, Moore, McNamara is window dressing so not to spook sponsors of the remaining GM teams.

[falcon_cobra]

A month later and Premiair still not committed?   

i still think PremiAir are working on a Toyota Relationship, for Supercar and Top Fuel

[murph_fan51]

I still have difficulty in seeing any reason GM would want to spend any additional money with no apparent commercial benefit.

Same here.
Maybe GM wish to become a global brand and along with once the Holden dust settles, we'll see Chev RHD vehicles appear in showrooms? To keep the brand awareness. Who knows, but it's a good question.

[mikeamerica84]

A month later and Premiair still not committed?   

i still think PremiAir are working on a Toyota Relationship, for Supercar and Top Fuel

Funny you mention that FC.  This article just came up and it says Toyota is pretty much getting out of Top Fuel in the NHRA here:

https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/other/toyota-is-leaving-nhra-but-gr-supras-will-remain-in-series-in-2026/ar-AA1HztsF?ocid=msedgdhp&pc=DCTS&cvid=8dbb3a41d04341e1a2f5911d5469263d&ei=21

[skaifeman]

Feeney and Brown locked in until end 2029. Brown mustn't be too unhappy to sign on again.
Although there was rumour about GM return - which I think LG would've been referring to in the Darwin thread.

https://speedcafe.com/supercars-news-will-brown-broc-feeney-re-sign-triple-eight-long-term-deals-2029-jamie-whincup/

[stevo qld]

Maybe it is just my imagination (or possibly senility):

There are quite a few drives still unconfirmed for 2026, and some of those teams have difficulty with sponsorship, hence rotating round sponsorship. Frankly about one third of current drivers are underperforming. Some of those drivers apparently got their drives with personal backing, which seems to be drying up as sponsors do not see success.

Then I look at Super 2 and see some outstanding drivers heading the charge and some are driving privately well-funded Super 2 campaigns, often with family business support.

I sincerely hope the underperforming current drivers become co-drivers or brick layers or accountants, etc., and get some of these Super 2 chargers in the main game. Look at practice times, so far, at Ipswich and some candidates are obvious.

PS: I would imagine one of the Bates clan would be enthusiastically welcomed in a Toyota, considering the family history. Now where can we find a 2026 Toyota Team with unconfirmed driving contracts? Gee that's a hard one isn't it, Brad.

My perusal of current Super 1 drivers would easily see a lot of drivers, some excellent in other classes, who have simply not jelled in the Super 1 racecars.

[skaifeman]

Is this Lowndes equivalent of the 'Team Brock' years for Brock?
https://www.supercars.com/news/craig-lowndes-contract-team-18-announces-wildcard-deal-bathurst-1000-silly-season-triple-eight

Unless GM give T18 a great bank of knowledge, that importantly, they can continue to build on (now that 888 are gone), they'll likely run out of fuel on the last lap.

[muz]

Is this Lowndes equivalent of the 'Team Brock' years for Brock?
https://www.supercars.com/news/craig-lowndes-contract-team-18-announces-wildcard-deal-bathurst-1000-silly-season-triple-eight

Unless GM give T18 a great bank of knowledge, that importantly, they can continue to build on (now that 888 are gone), they'll likely run out of fuel on the last lap.

Agree, this will be a **** show for Lowndes compared to T8. Like going to FPR in 2003.

Anyone else think Lowndsey is looking a little chunky these days?

[skaifeman]

And this will complete the Erebus fiasco.
Back to two rookie drivers, plethora of fresh staff and rotating sponsorship. See you all again in 2030 folks.

https://speedcafe.com/supercars-news-erebus-motorsport-silly-season-jack-le-brocq-jobe-stewart-rookie/

[drivexby]

https://www.news.com.au/technology/motoring/on-the-road/toyota-gr-supra-axed-from-australia-lives-on-in-supercars/news-story/f741ef5dc8b41241f2ddc36ecab65bcb

Makes me wonder the reasoning behind Toyota joining Supercars?  Obviously not to increase sales of Supra's.

[skaifeman]

https://www.news.com.au/technology/motoring/on-the-road/toyota-gr-supra-axed-from-australia-lives-on-in-supercars/news-story/f741ef5dc8b41241f2ddc36ecab65bcb

Makes me wonder the reasoning behind Toyota joining Supercars?  Obviously not to increase sales of Supra's.

I saw the article by V8 Sleuth, with no mention that the A100 was in the works. Not very sleuth-y, extremely click bait-y.
Given the mass articles on the next gen Supra, with none suggesting it's dead in the water (ala Camaro) and Toyota's new involvement with an old shape, something is on the way.

https://www.carexpert.com.au/car-news/next-generation-toyota-supra-could-spawn-lexus-and-mazda-coupes-report

I'm going to go one further and suggest that with the rumours of the A100 in the works, what if it were to utilise a V8 from the Toyota/Lexus family.
Entering Supercars to push the GR name, and the new V8 platform would be cool.

https://speedcafe.com/supercars-news-2025-toyota-v8-supra-reveal-gen3-a90-gazoo-racing-sean-hanley-explained-comments-production-end/

[skaifeman]

Fair bit happening in this article. Cleared decks at MSR and PremiAir.
Makes sense for Cam Hill to go to Toyota, given the Canberra-Bates connection (despite their on-track skirmish).

BJR: Heimgartner, Hill, Jones, Evans
PremiAir: Ojeda, Fraser
MSR: LeBrocq, and Percat out
BRT: Cameron? and JC?

Reynolds still not confirmed at T18 and there's a spot at Erebus. Does Percat pop up there? Fullwood to MSR given their Super2 stint?
Seems the Chev teams are just rotating their drivers.