Jack Daniel’s Racing has confirmed that David Russell and Tim Blanchard will join the team for this year’s Sandown and Bathurst endurance races.
Russell, who drives in the squad’s Dunlop Series team under the Dreamtime Racing banner, will share the #15 entry with Rick Kelly, while Blanchard will join Todd Kelly in car #7.
Both drivers were a part of Kelly Racing’s endurance effort last year, with Russell seeing the continuity as a strength this time around.
“It’s great to be back in the JD garage that is for sure,” said Russell, who co-drove with Todd Kelly last year.
“It’s good to have that continuity. I have been in the cars before, but obviously there’s a switch this year to partner Rick which is something I am relishing.”
Russell and Blanchard are among 25 co-drivers set to turn laps at Phillip Island tomorrow in the lead-up to this weekend’s Phillip Island 300.
Click here now.
“This weekend is all about getting a base setup for Todd for the rest of the meeting,” said Blanchard, who currently sits fifth in the 2012 Dunlop Series points standings, where he drives a Matthew White Motorsport prepared Ford.
“It also gives me the opportunity to get used to driving one of the Kelly Racing cars against a full field of V8s.”
Although yet to be confirmed, Owen Kelly and Daniel Gaunt are expected to complete the four-car Kelly Racing squad’s endurance roster, and will both suit-up for the team at Phillip Island tomorrow.
See below for the final Phillip Island entry list
| # | Sponsor Name | Driver Name | Additional Driver | Additional Driver | Model |
| 1 | TeamVodafone | Jamie Whincup | Paul Dumbrell | VE II | |
| 2 | Holden Racing Team | Garth Tander | Nick Percat | VE II | |
| 3 | Team Hiflex | Tony D’Alberto | Dale Wood | FG | |
| 4 | Irwin Racing | Lee Holdsworth | Craig Baird | Luke Youlden | FG |
| 5 | Orrcon Steel FPR Ford | Mark Winterbottom | Steven Richards | John McIntyre | FG |
| 6 | Tradingpost FPR Ford | Will Davison | Steven Richards | John McIntyre | FG |
| 7 | Jack Daniel’s Racing | Todd Kelly | Tim Blanchard | David Russell | VE II |
| 8 | Team BOC | Jason Bright | Andrew Jones | David Besnard | VE II |
| 9 | SP Tools Racing | Shane van Gisbergen | Craig Baird | Luke Youlden | FG |
| 11 | Fair Dinkum Sheds Racing | Karl Reindler | Daniel Gaunt | Owen Kelly | VE II |
| 12 | Jim Beam Racing | Dean Fiore | FG | ||
| 14 | Lockwood Racing | Fabian Coulthard | Andrew Jones | David Besnard | VE II |
| 15 | Jack Daniel’s Racing | Rick Kelly | David Russell | Tim Blanchard | VE II |
| 17 | Jim Beam Racing | Steven Johnson | FG | ||
| 18 | Team Norton DJR | James Moffat | Alex Davison | FG | |
| 19 | Tekno Autosports | Jonathon Webb | Scott McLaughlin | VE II | |
| 21 | Wilson Security Racing | David Wall | Chris Pither | VE II | |
| 22 | Holden Racing Team | James Courtney | Cameron McConville | VE II | |
| 30 | Team iSelect | Taz Douglas | Scott Pye | VE II | |
| 33 | Fujitsu Racing GRM | Alexandre Premat | Greg Ritter | VE II | |
| 34 | Fujitsu Racing GRM | Michael Caruso | Jack Perkins | VE II | |
| 47 | Lucky 7 Racing | Tim Slade | Andrew Thompson | FG | |
| 49 | V.I.P. Petfoods | Steve Owen | Paul Morris | FG | |
| 51 | Pepsi Max Crew | Greg Murphy | Owen Kelly | Daniel Gaunt | VE II |
| 55 | The Bottle-O FPR Ford | David Reynolds | Dean Canto | FG | |
| 66 | Supercheap Auto Racing | Russell Ingall | Christian Klien | VE II | |
| 91 | Tekno Autosports | Michael Patrizi | Jonny Reid | VE II | |
| 888 | TeamVodafone | Craig Lowndes | Paul Dumbrell | VE II |
See below for Speedcafe.com’s Phillip Island 300 Race Guide
