Erebus Motorsport has revealed liveries and co-drivers for its second season campaigning Holdens in the Virgin Australia Supercars Championship.
David Reynolds and new recruit Dale Wood will be joined by Luke Youlden and Chris Pither respectively for the Pirtek Enduro Cup.
Youlden joins Erebus after being shuffled out of DJR Team Penske, ending his four-year association with Fabian Coulthard.
Reynolds’ new car is the first Holden to have been built by Erebus, replacing the ex-Walkinshaw chassis that he raced last year.
Youlden says the combination will have high expectations for the season.
“I’ve known Dave for a long time and his personality is infectious and his talent is unquestionable, so I’m really looking forward to driving with him,” Youlden said.
“Coming from the dark side back to the red team, I’m really looking forward to getting back in a Holden.
“I am hoping this car suits my natural driving style, and I know Dave is quite aggressive, so I’m looking forward to seeing if I can match him and move up the field together.
“Expectations are definitely podiums, I’ve had lots of podiums but no wins yet, so I really want to get that top step too.
“I’m also looking forward to working with Alistair (McVean), he’s always been an arch enemy and he came on board late last year and the team has really moved forward.”
Pither meanwhile returns to a co-driver role after a single season as a full-time driver with Super Black Racing in 2016.
Erebus’ second entry has been renumbered from #4 to #99 in line with the arrival of Wood and his backers GB Galvanizing.
The change ends a lineage for the #4 that stretched back to the start of Stone Brothers Racing in 1998.
Wood and Pither reunite at Erebus after driving together at Brad Jones Racing in 2014.
“I’m really excited to pair with Dale again, and to be part of Erebus for the first time is also exciting and Sandown can’t come around quick enough,” Pither said.
“Off the back of driving full time in 2016, it puts me in a pretty good place, I feel comfortable and confident unlike previous years when I didn’t have as many miles up.
“We had some good showings when we were together last and I feel confident we can put our best foot forward and be up the pointy end.”
Erebus opted for an online launch of its cars while simultaneously making a $2,000 donation to Strength for 91, supporting injured BMX star Sam Willoughby.
The team leant its support to Willoughby last year, running Strength for 91 decals on the rear of the cars, before auctioning off the boot of Reynolds’ car.
“I once said ‘I’d rather invest the money that we would spend on a launch, into something that benefits someone else’, and this is no different,” Klimenko said.
“When we heard about Sam and his condition, we wanted to support in any way we could. We did our part last year and we will continue doing so.”
