Two-time Dunlop Series winner Steve Owen has emerged as a contender to drive Charlie Schwerkolt’s Jeld-Wen Ford in 2014.
Schwerkolt’s entry, which runs as a fourth car out of Ford Performance Racing, was driven by Alex Davison this season, finishing 13th in points.
Schwerkolt remained tight-lipped on his future plans as the 2013 season concluded in Sydney, confirming only that Davison remains a chance to stay on.
The seat is the most competitive remaining available on the 2014 grid, leaving Schwerkolt to negotiate with several part-funded drivers.
Dunlop Series front-runner Steve Owen has increasingly been linked to the seat in recent weeks, while others remaining in the market include the likes of Jack Perkins, Dale Wood and Tim Blanchard.
Owen joined FPR as an endurance driver this year, impressing the team in his Pirtek Enduro Cup outings alongside Will Davison.
The 38-year-old has a deal to remain in the factory squad’s enduro line-up if he does not land a full-time ride.
Owen already has 166 V8 Supercars Championship race starts to his name, with his most recent full-time appearance coming with Dick Johnson Racing last year.
“I think there is a fair bit happening in pitlane at the moment with regards to the main game,” Owen told Speedcafe.com when asked of his future.
“I don’t know what is going on with Alex Davison’s seat whether he has been locked away again or not, but I think that will depend on a lot of things.
“There are a couple of other seats around that haven’t been filled and we won’t know how many cars are even going to be on the grid until closer to Christmas.
“I’m confident that I’ll be racing at Clipsal (the 2014 season-opener), but whether it’s in the main series or not we’ll have to wait and see.”
Owen stepped into MW Motorsport’s Dunlop Series entry following Chaz Mostert’s graduation to the main series earlier this year and will likely continue in the seat if he does not pull off a top tier deal.
FPR is expected to run its own Dunlop Series effort in 2014 after a season out of the class, fielding 2011 Australian Formula Ford Champion Cameron Waters.
