Daniel Ricciardo may very well be in line for a sensational short-term swap to V8 Supercars subsequent season after Triple Eight Race Engineering and Garth Tander surprisingly parted methods on Friday.
The Crimson Bull-owned group stated that Tander, a five-time Bathurst 1000 winner, had opted not renew his contract on the finish of the season, simply two months after triumphing at Mount Panorama alongside Shane Van Gisbergen.
Group principal Jamie Whincup stated the would communicate with ‘drivers each home and overseas to search out the most effective match to co-pilot’ the quantity 97 automobile along with Van Gisbergen.
Daniel Ricciardo may very well be in line for a sensational swap to V8 Supercars subsequent yr
He added the seek for a alternative driver to share the seat on the Sandown 500 and Bathurst 1000 subsequent yr was already underway.
In keeping with Information Corp, Tander’s sudden departure might open the door for Ricciardo.
The Australian would not have a seat on the grid for the 2023 Method 1 marketing campaign after splitting with McLaren on the finish of a troublesome season.
The eight-time Grand Prix winner signed a cope with Crimson Bull to be their reserve driver subsequent yr and has vowed to safe a seat for 2024.
The 33-year-old got here by way of the junior ranks at Crimson Bull and raced for 2 years for the drink giant-owned Scuderia Toro Rosso – which has since rebranded to Alpha Tauri – earlier than being promoted to Crimson Bull’s most important group.
Garth Tander (left) and Shane Van Gisbergen have fun successful the Bathurst 1000
Group principal Jamie Whincup stated Triple Eight Race Engineering had been exploring a number of choices to switch Tander forward of subsequent season
And his return to the Milton Keynes-based group might facilitate a swap to V8, because the power drink large’s motorsport arms contains Triple Eight Race Engineering, which is branded as Crimson Bull Ampol Racing Supercars.
Information Corp reported that Supercars have already sounded out Ricciardo about attainable appearances at chosen occasions in subsequent yr’s championship.
Fernando Alonso adopted the same path when he raced for McLaren within the Indianapolis 500 in 2017 and 2019, whereas below contract for the group’s Method One group.
Ricciardo will return to Crimson Bull subsequent season because the group’s reserve driver for 2023
In Might, Supercars chief govt Shane Howard stated the game can be ready to roll out of the purple carpet for the previous McLaren driver.
‘If the chance introduced itself to have Daniel on the grid as a wildcard or in any other case, we’d completely need it to occur,’ Howard advised the Herald Solar.
‘He is among the greatest drivers and most recognised athletes on the planet, it might be incredible to have him race a Supercar in some unspecified time in the future.
‘We haven’t spoken to Daniel or his administration and it might be within the palms of groups to align any alternatives which will current themselves sooner or later, however for positive it’s one thing we’d assist.’
