Tim Slade will join Brad Jones Racing and take over the Freightliner Racing #14 Holden Commodore for the 2016 season.
Slade – who currently races for Walkinshaw Racing in the Supercheap Auto Commodore – will fill the seat Fabian Coulthard leaves next year when he heads to DJR Team Penske, as announced on tonight’s episode of Inside Supercars.
The 30-year old debuted in the Championshp in 2009 and has claimed a number of podium results, a fifth place finish in the Championship in 2012 a highlight.
While he is still chasing his first V8 Supercars race win, the Albury-based BJR team is confident it will happen in 2016.
“I’m super excited to join the team next year and really looking forward to it. It is a great opportunity,” Slade said.
“The team have been one of the benchmark teams since the introduction of the car of the future and have had some really strong race results, which I want to continue for them in 2016.”
Slade believes the environment at BJR will bring out the best in him.
“I think the Freightliner Racing team will suit me, originally being a country boy from Adelaide, and also having experience with a family team background; working with the guys from SBR [Stone Brothers Racing, now Erebus].
“I’m looking forward to being back in that family team environment again.”
Jones was thrilled to sign the South Australian, seeing potential for the future.
“I am really excited as we feel Tim has untapped potential; which BJR have a history of uncorking with drivers. I think his talent combined with our crew will make for a really great 2016 … he has all the attributes that we look for in a driver in terms of speed and commitment,” Jones said.
“Talking to people who have worked with Tim, [they] say he has a great feel for the car set up. His good understanding of the vehicle and knowledge is something we are definitely looking forward to working with.”
With one round remaining, Slade is hopeful of putting on a show at the Coates Hire Sydney 500, a track where he stood on the podium last year.
“The immediate focus is to finish this year off as strongly as possible and do my best for Supercheap and Walkinshaw Racing,” he said.
“With only the final round left, I want to do the best I can for those guys.”
