The final look of the 2013 V8 Supercars Championship grid is almost complete, with a number of impending confirmations set to lock down the new field.
As reported by Speedcafe.com last week, former Stone Brothers Racing star Shane van Gisbergen is set to make an unexpected and bold return to the V8 field, linking with Tekno Autosports.
The shock news regarding the fast Kiwi’s future is set to be confirmed later this week.
The role vacated by van Gisbergen at Erebus Motorsport (formally SBR) is yet to be confirmed, with paddock talk linking Chaz Mostert to the drive. The Ford Performance Racing junior driver is likely to remain a driver contracted to FPR, but could be loaned to the new Mercedez Benz team.
FPR team principal Tim Edwards has said in the past that if he is unable to find Mostert a seat in the V8 Supercars Championship, he will field a Dunlop Series entry for his young charger.
Another set of seats yet to be announced lie with the newly-expanded two-car Lucas Dumbrell Motorsport squad.
Dunlop Series runner-up Scott Pye has been heavily linked to the drive in the #30 iSelect-backed entry, while the team’s second Holden is firming as a new home for Dean Fiore.The West Australian recently confirmed that he will lease his own Racing Entitlements Contract to Dick Johnson Racing for this year.
Team owner Lucas Dumbrell could not be contacted for further comment.
The final vacancy is at Dick Johnson Racing, driving the #12 Falcon that was recently vacated by Fiore. Last year’s DJR driver Steve Owen and former Kelly Racing pilot Karl Reindler are understood to be in contention for the position.
Other seats that have not been made public, yet are widely known as confirmed, are Michael Caruso and James Moffat at Nissan Motorsport.
See below for the list of confirmed drivers in the 2013 V8 Supercars Championship.
Note: Italics are unconfirmed/rumoured
| 1 | Jamie Whincup | Triple Eight Race Engineering | Holden Commodore VF |
| 2 | Garth Tander | Holden Racing Team | Holden Commodore VF |
| 3 | Tony D’Alberto | Tony D’Alberto Racing | Holden Commodore VF |
| 4 | Lee Holdsworth | Erebus Motorsport | Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG |
| 5 | Mark Winterbottom | Ford Performance Racing | Ford Falcon FG |
| 6 | Will Davison | Ford Performance Racing | Ford Falcon FG |
| 7 | Todd Kelly | Nissan Motorsport | Nissan Altima L33 |
| 8 | Jason Bright | Brad Jones Racing | Holden Commodore VF |
| 9 | Chaz Mostert | Erebus Motorsport | Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG |
| 11 | James Moffat | Nissan Motorsport | Nissan Altima L33 |
| 12 | – | Triple F Racing | Ford Falcon FG |
| 14 | Fabian Coulthard | Brad Jones Racing | Holden Commodore VF |
| 15 | Rick Kelly | Nissan Motorsport | Nissan Altima L33 |
| 16 | Michael Caruso | Nissan Motorsport | Nissan Altima L33 |
| 17 | Steve Johnson | Dick Johnson Racing | Ford Falcon FG |
| 18 | Alex Davison | Charlie Schwerkolt Racing | Ford Falcon FG |
| 19 | Jonathon Webb | Tekno Autosports | Holden Commodore VF |
| 21 | David Wall | Brad Jones Racing | Holden Commodore VF |
| 22 | James Courtney | Holden Racing Team | Holden Commodore VF |
| 30 | Scott Pye | Lucas Dumbrell Motorsport | Holden Commodore VF |
| 33 | Alexandre Premat | Garry Rogers Motorsport | Holden Commodore VF |
| 34 | Scott McLaughlin | Garry Rogers Motorsport | Holden Commodore VF |
| 47 | Tim Slade | Erebus Motorsport | Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG |
| 49 | Dean Fiore | Lucas Dumbrell Motorsport | Holden Commodore VF |
| 55 | David Reynolds | Rod Nash Racing | Ford Falcon FG |
| 66 | Russell Ingall | Walkinshaw Racing | Holden Commodore VF |
| 91 | Shane van Gisbergen | Tekno Autosports | Holden Commodore VF |
| 888 | Craig Lowndes | Triple Eight Race Engineering | Holden Commodore VF |
