Blanchard confirms his 2019 plans

30 Oct, 2018

After making his Supercars debut at Phillip Island in 2010 as a co-driver, then stepping up to a full-time in 2013; Tim Blanchard has confirmed that at the end of the 2018 season, he will step away from driving the #21 Team CoolDrive Supercar full-time in 2019.

Tim explains “It is obviously a very tough decision to step down from full time driving, but a decision I have made myself and one that I am comfortable with.”

“Supercars is more competitive than ever before with very little separating the entire field, nevertheless the results haven’t been to the standard I would like, therefore I had to start thinking about what changes needed to occur for this to change and what I wanted to achieve personally longer term. I have a keen interest in the management side of the sport and am keen to start exploring that.”

Tim has spent the last three seasons in the Brad Jones Racing stable in the #21 Team CoolDrive Supercar. At the end of 2016, Tim purchased his own Racing Entitlements Contract (REC) with the long-term goal of running and operating a team in the future.

Tim continued “The purchase of the REC was always part of a longer-term plan that included post my full-time driving career. TBR will continue its association with BJR in 2019 and I will be involved in ensuring that TBR is set up for a long and successful stint within Supercars.”

For CoolDrive Auto Parts their involvement in Supercars has been a key element in marketing and development of their brand across Australia and New Zealand. Supercar fans can expect to see CoolDrive branding on the #21 entry in 2019, and as for who will be behind the wheel for the upcoming season; that decision is yet to be made.

Tim added “We are still working out who will drive the TBR entry in 2019, I had to decide on my own driving first and now that decision has been made we will work on assessing all realistic options in the coming weeks.”

Tim will continue in the Supercars Championship as a co-driver in the endurance events, and if the opportunity presents itself to enjoy some seat time in another category; then Tim will look to explore those options. 

 “I still enjoy driving and will continue to do so in the Pirtek Endurance Cup alongside any other opportunities that arise.”

At the end of the 2018 season, Tim will have competed in 84 rounds of the Supercars Championship.