Five teammate battles to watch in 2023
The comparison between teammates is always a hot topic over the course of a Supercars season.
Only five seats changed year on year between 2022 and 2023, with many drivers keen to put one over their teammates.
Some new chapters will be written in the existing chapters of teammate battles — and there’s no doubt that the new Gen3 rules will add spice.
With the Thrifty Newcastle 500 fast approaching, Supercars.com looks at five head-to-heads to keep an eye on in 2023.
Shane van Gisbergen vs Broc Feeney: Red Bull Ampol Racing
Van Gisbergen dominated 2022, but Feeney ended his rookie season strongly with a maiden victory in Adelaide.
The Gen3 reset sees everyone start on zero, although there’s no denying van Gisbergen’s form and performance.
However, Feeney proved in Adelaide that he can lead from the front and absorb heavy pressure. Could the 20-year-old spring an upset in 2023?
Anton De Pasquale vs Will Davison: Shell V-Power Racing Team
The DJR battle went right down to the wire in 2022, and it was De Pasquale who finished just ahead of Davison in the points.
Davison won three races to De Pasquale’s one, and scored nine poles to four — but the #11 ended up ahead on the points sheet.
Davison’s luck went against him in the second half of the year despite winning three races, with De Pasquale falling away after Townsville.
Naturally, with 26 points between its two drivers, DJR has an evenly-matched line-up — but the real test is closing the gap to van Gisbergen ahead.
Chaz Mostert vs Nick Percat: Walkinshaw Andretti United
Percat couldn’t show his best in 2022 as he battled with engineer changes and set-up dramas.
Mostert was by far the better of the two, leaving Percat desperate to turn the tide in 2023.
With the team switching to Ford, WAU is hoping it can battle for overall honours and put its name into the teams’ championship fight, just as it hoped it would last year.
Will Brown vs Brodie Kostecki: Coca-Cola Racing by Erebus
Brown’s 2022 season didn’t go to plan, with Kostecki the better of the two.
Given the team’s smooth testing program and speedy showing in Sydney, Erebus seems armed to make a splash in 2023.
Couple that with a determined Brown eager to atone for his 2022 struggles, and Kostecki having had a taste of the top, and Erebus could throw the cat among the pigeons.
Tim Slade vs James Golding: PremiAir Racing
Slade arrives at PremiAir Racing buoyed by a strong end to 2022 with recruit Golding.
Golding’s signing proved a masterstroke as the team found form, and it is now armed to capitalise on the new Gen3 rules.
Slade will also have a teammate for the first time since 2019, which will help push both drivers — and the team — along.
