Chris Pither will team up with Craig Baird for the first of the V8 SuperTourer two-driver races at Taupo in early September.

Pither will drive the United Video Racing Ford Falcon in all three endurance races, while Baird will miss the final two rounds of the series due to clashing commitments in Asian Porsche competition.

A replacement driver for Baird is yet to be found.

Pither is no stranger to V8 power, having won last year’s V8 Utes Series in Australia, plus contesting selected V8 Supercars and Development Series races in the past.

Pither will team up with David Wall in the #21 Wilson Security Racing Commodore VE at Sandown and Bathurst this year.

While Baird is disappointed to miss out on the final two rounds at Pukekohe and Ruapuna, he says that Pither will be a solid co-driver in his United Video/PSR Racing Ford.

“Chris is great for this ride,” Baird told Speedcafe.com.

“He has been around the block, he’s been though the school of hard knocks, so he knows what it takes to be mechanically easy on the car. And really, he has nothing to prove.

“We’re just a team that will go through our own program and not worry about anyone else and make sure we get to the end. That’s our goal.

“I’m really happy to have him on board. I’ve known him for a long time. He’s a kid who hasn’t had a lot of big breaks. He has made a name for himself in classes like the V8 Utes, but he is probably better than that.

“At this stage, I won’t be doing Pukekohe or Ruapuna, so from my point of view, Chris will be the lead driver at Taupo.”

After the four sprint rounds of the inaugural series, Baird sits in ninth place in the standings. Baird also currently leads the Porsche City Index Carrera Cup Australia title.

The first V8 SuperTourers two-driver race will be held at Taupo for the Fathers Day 400 on September 1-2.