CoolDrive Racing Launches New Supercars Team for 2021

The newest team to join the Repco Supercars Championship has been confirmed, with Tim Slade to drive for the newly formed CoolDrive Auto Parts-backed Blanchard Racing Team (BRT).

The outfit will utilise a proven race-winning package in the form of a Tickford Racing-built Ford Mustang and race #3 - with Tickford also providing the car’s power plant.

The team will be based out of CoolDrive’s head office in Box Hill, Melbourne.

Former Championship driver and teammate of Slade’s at Brad Jones Racing, Tim Blanchard is the co-principal of his family-owned entry and says the time was right to make the switch to a stand-alone squad and a Mustang.

“For CoolDrive Auto Parts and the entire Blanchard family, this announcement is the result of a long-term commitment to Supercars racing, and is very exciting for all involved,” Blanchard said.

“We joined with Brad Jones Racing in 2016 in a customer relationship, it was a good run over those years, we learned a lot, but now it is time for us to stand on our own two feet.

“Our long-term vision by investing in a Racing Entitlements Contract was to one day control our own destiny, with Supercars still providing the perfect platform to promote our core automotive business.

“We’re investing strongly in this project with high-quality equipment, a top-line facility, and very skilled people.

“We also thought it fitting to rename the outfit to Blanchard Racing Team to appropriately reflect the entire Blanchard family’s involvement in the team, and passion and commitment to the sport. Motorsport is who we are, it’s in our family’s DNA.

“Tim [Slade] is a great asset for the team, he brings a lot of experience and speed, which is important for a single-car outfit. I have known him for a very long time and have a lot of respect for his ability.

“I can’t wait for the 2021 season to get started.”

Slade returns to full-time driving after just one Supercars race in 2020, as a co-driver for Scott McLaughlin in the Dick John Racing Mustang at the Bathurst 1000.