• Login
  • Register
Speedcafe.com
  • HOME
  • NEWS
  • PODCASTS
  • PHOTOS
  • CALENDAR
  • RESULTS & STANDINGS
  • NETWORK
No Result
View All Result
  • Supercars
  • F1
  • NASCAR
  • INDYCAR
  • SRO GT
  • KARTING
  • RALLY
  • BIKES
  • HOME
  • NEWS
  • PODCASTS
  • PHOTOS
  • CALENDAR
  • RESULTS & STANDINGS
  • NETWORK
No Result
View All Result
  • Feed
  • Calendar
  • Results
  • Photos
  • Podcasts
  • Shop
Speedcafe.com
  • Supercars
  • F1
  • NASCAR
  • IndyCar
  • SRO GT
  • Karting
  • Rally
  • Bikes
  • FastDeli Club
Home Supercars

Winterbottom thought new Team 18 deal ‘was done’

Supercars champion Mark Winterbottom thought he had a deal done with Charlie Schwerkolt to race full-time with Team 18 in 2025.

Simon Chapman
Simon Chapman
13 Sep 2024
Simon Chapman
//
13 Sep 2024
// Supercars
A A
51
Winterbottom thought new Team 18 deal ‘was done’
Repco Supercars Championship - Sandown 500

Mark Winterbottom (right) with Team 18 co-driver Michael Caruso.

Mark Winterbottom (right) with Team 18 co-driver Michael Caruso. Image: InSyde Media

The 2013 Bathurst 1000 winner was left stunned when Team 18 signed outgoing Dick Johnson Racing driver Anton De Pasquale.

Winterbottom received an outpouring of support on social media and the Supercars stalwart said even some of his “fiercest enemies” had called him to see if he was okay.

As it stands, Winterbottom has not got any agreements to race on the Supercars grid next year, whether that’s full-time or as a co-driver.

Speaking with Speedcafe, Winterbottom said he believed he had an agreement in place – at least in principle.

“Well, we were talking about it,” said Winterbottom.

“Yeah, I was, and I thought… my final meeting was to discuss if it was for one or two years.

“It was done, my part was done. I thought it was done, and clearly it wasn’t.”

Winterbottom’s account tallies with suggestions that the parties were negotiating a three-year deal, with the sticking point being whether one or two of those were to be as a full-time driver.

As of Thursday before the Sandown 500, Winterbottom said he hasn’t spoken to Schwerkolt since the announcement that De Pasquale would drive the #18 Chevrolet Camaro.

“He hasn’t spoken to me, at the moment, but we’ve been busy and whatnot,” said Winterbottom.

“At the end of the day, teams can make decisions, they can make whatever business decision they want, but you just hope… because when your career ends it’s a big thing, so you just want to have people tell you.

“If you’re told you’ve 100 percent got a drive, I take that it’s not 99 percent, it’s 100 percent – but until things are signed, I guess in this sport, in business, nothing’s ever done, is it? Too loyal. When you shake hands with me, I’m done.

“Anyway, that’s how it ended up.”

Mark Winterbottom in the #18 DeWalt-sponsored Chevrolet Camaro. Image: InSyde Media

Understandably, Winterbottom’s priority is to continue full-time in Supercars.

Although he has no future with Team 18 as a full-time driver, the Mount Waverley-based squad has offered Winterbottom a co-drive deal.

However, the 43-year-old said he is not in a rush to make a call.

“They’ve put an offer forward,” said Winterbottom.

“To them, it’s important to get done quickly. To me, I thought I had a deal done, so you’ve just got to re-evaluate your life.

“People make decisions but you just got to live by those decisions. For me, I wouldn’t be rushing straight away.

“Part of the deal was going to be to co-drive there and finish my career there. That was important to me, but when that gets taken away, then you re-evaluate it all.

“I’m not in a rush to do anything. Enjoy the weekend, enjoy my four rounds and then we’ll assess it.”

Related Supercars news

👉 Grove outcast Stanaway drops silly season hint

👉 Wildcard details whirlwind rush to Sandown grid

👉 Supercars to carry Campbell Little tributes

Winterbottom is comfortable with the reality that a full-time drive mightn’t be possible.

In any case, the Sydney-born driver will be in hot demand for a co-drive if no full-time opportunities exist elsewhere.

“I want to stay in, like full-time,” said Winterbottom, who has been linked to full-time seats at Brad Jones Racing and PremiAir Racing.

“We’re lucky in our sport when you aren’t full-time that you still get to go and try and win the biggest race of the year.

“If I can’t be full-time I’d be driving and picking the team that’s got the best chance of winning for next year.

“I have got some good friends that I’ve raced with over the years that I’d love to race with again. So if that happens, that happens – but the focus at the moment is just enjoy the weekend.

“I didn’t think I was part of the driver market. Often it can be a long process. It wasn’t on the cards.

“Enduros, people start talking but it’s 12 months away, so I’ll see how I go this weekend and go from there.”

Tags: mark winterbottomsupercarsteam 18

Discussion about this post

Latest from Torquecafe

These are the best of Ford Australia

03 April 2025

Two famous brands will now sell you a race car

03 April 2025

Ford Australia turns 100

02 April 2025

No joke: Hyundai teases return of the ‘baby hot hatch’

02 April 2025

Latest Podcasts

PODCAST: Supercars parity changes explained + Doohan exit verdict

09 May 2025

PODCAST: Grassroots Racing with Ben Schoots

08 May 2025

Related Articles

Matt Payne won a Sunday thriller in Tasmania. Image: InSyde Media

Payne beats Feeney by 0.05s in Tassie thriller

Supercars
12 minutes ago
Supercars
6
Nash Morris scored a first Super2 win. Image: InSyde Media

Morris scores maiden Super2 Series race win

Super2
2 hours ago
Super2
1

Sign Up For Our Newsletter

Subscribe to our mailing list to receives daily updates direct to your inbox!

Check your inbox or spam folder to confirm your subscription.

Platinum Partner

Latest & Trending News

Matt Payne won a Sunday thriller in Tasmania. Image: InSyde Media

Payne beats Feeney by 0.05s in Tassie thriller

Supercars
11 May 2025
Supercars
6
A last gasp and miniscle race win gave Mason Harvey the round victory. Image: InSyde Media

Mason wins Aussie Racing Car round by a whisker

National
11 May 2025
National
0
Nash Morris scored a first Super2 win. Image: InSyde Media

Morris scores maiden Super2 Series race win

Super2
11 May 2025
Super2
1
Skid blocks under the front bars of the DJR cars were deemed to have been modified.

Revealed: The skid blocks that got DJR disqualified

Supercars
11 May 2025
Supercars
15
Will Brown celebrates pole position. Image: InSyde Media

Brown pips Wood in weird Symmons Plains Shootout

Supercars
11 May 2025
Supercars
9
Will Brown topped a delayed Sunday qualifying in Tasmania. Image: InSyde Media

Brown fastest after timing failure delays qualifying

Supercars
11 May 2025
Supercars
6
Pirtek Poll

POLL: Has Doohan done enough to retain F1 seat?

Vote View Results Past polls
Pirtek Poll
View past polls

Supercars Championship

Pos Driver Points
1 Will Brown 467
2 Cameron Waters 460
3 Broc Feeney 418
4 Chaz Mostert 333

CLICK HERE for full results and standings

Formula 1

1 Lando Norris 62
2 Max Verstappen 61
3 Oscar Piastri 49
4 George Russell 45
5 Kimi Antonelli 30

CLICK HERE for full results and standings

Also, full results and standings for;

TCR Super2 MotoGP IndyCar
[instagram-feed feed=2]
Support the partners that support Speedcafe
Truck Assist R & J Batteries Pirtek Mobil Super Supercheap Auto Michelin Meguiars coates XPEL FORD ACDelco parcelprotect become a partner
AASA PPQ Authentic Collectables bathurst sportsnetholidays nuevasolutions
Speedcafe.com has been established to provide a daily motorsport news service to the industry and fans in Australia and internationally.
Follow Us

Categories

SUPERCARS

F1

NASCAR

INDYCAR

GT

MOTOGP

PHOTOS

TV

PODS

Platinum Partners

TRUCK ASSIST
R&J BATTERIES
PIRTEK
MOBIL1
SUPERCHEAP AUTO

PARCEL PROTECT

MICHELIN
MEGUIARS

COATES
FORD

XPEL

ACDELCO

Newsletter

Subscribe to our daily newsletter, the best way to get your news first, fast and free!

Check your inbox or spam folder to confirm your subscription.

Your daily racing fix - Newsletter

Subscribe to our daily and breaking newsletter for all the latest news delivered direct to your box

SUBSCRIBE
Follow Us

Categories

SUPERCARS

F1

NASCAR

INDYCAR

GT

MOTOGP

PHOTOS

TV

PODS

Platinum Partners

TRUCK ASSIST
R&J BATTERIES
PIRTEK
MOBIL1
SUPERCHEAP AUTO

PARCEL PROTECT

MICHELIN
MEGUIARS

COATES
FORD

XPEL

ACDELCO

Copyright © 2025 Speedcafe.com. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA. The Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Our Team    /  Advertise with us  /  Privacy Policy

No Result
View All Result
  • News
  • Calendar
  • Results
  • Event guides
  • Podcasts
  • SHOP
  • Photos
  • Videos
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise
  • Speedcafe Network
  • FastDeli Club

Copyright © 2023 Speedcafe.com This site is protected by reCAPTCHA. The Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password? Sign Up

Create New Account!

Fill the forms below to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Add New Playlist

No Result
View All Result
  • News
  • Calendar
  • Results
  • Event guides
  • Podcasts
  • SHOP
  • Photos
  • Videos
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise
  • Speedcafe Network
  • FastDeli Club

Copyright © 2023 Speedcafe.com This site is protected by reCAPTCHA. The Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.