Fabian Coulthard has confirmed that he is looking for a multi-year deal to return to Supercars full-time.
It has emerged that Coulthard is out of the running to become Chaz Mostert’s team-mate at Walkinshaw Andretti United next year.
It is understood that the Gold Coast-based New Zealander didn’t pursue WAU’s interest for 2024 because he wants more than one season to make a comeback to the regular driver ranks.
Coulthard was being considered to replace Nick Percat in the second WAU Ford Mustang, among others.
WAU team principal Bruce Stewart has admitted that Percat’s position is “under review”, aiming to decide the driver of the #2 Ford Mustang before next month’s Sandown 500.
With Coulthard out of the running, the way looks clear for the Clayton squad’s Kiwi Super2 protege Ryan Wood to graduate next year.
Without directly commenting on the speculation, Coulthard reaffirmed he was open to a return to the full Supercars Championship if he were offered the right deal.
“I’d love to get back into Supercars full-time,” he told Speedcafe. “I’d like to do multi years somewhere and get the opportunity to then get back into Supercars.”
Coulthard was signed by WAU as a co-driver last year after being sidelined in Peter Xiberras’s takeover of Team Sydney.
He combined with Mostert to finish a strong second in the 2022 Bathurst 1000, and has been paired with Percat in the #2 Mobil 1 NTI Racing Mustang for the upcoming enduros.
This season he also returned to the Porsche Carrera Cup – which he won in 2005 – to keep race fit for Sandown and Bathurst.
It is understood Coulthard’s co-driver agreement with WAU is up for renewal and, while open to a full-time return, he indicated continuing his Carrera Cup campaign alongside Supercars enduro drives was an appealing prospect.
“I’d love to do that,” he said. “If I can’t find something full-time, then definitely I’d still love to do the enduros. Then I get the best of both worlds – race Porsches throughout the year and then you get to do the enduros at Sandown and Bathurst.”
At 41, although judged by WAU to be fast enough to rejoin the regulars in 2024, Coulthard is less likely to secure a multi-year full-time deal.
But with his speed and experience, he can look forward to an extended career as an in-demand co-driver.
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