Chahda squad hands Trans Am ace Bathurst Super2 debut

Matt Chahda Motorsport has announced that Jackson Rice will drive the #116 ZB Commodore at the upcoming Dunlop Series races at the Repco Bathurst 1000.

Rice has been a regular in Trans Am and TA2 competition in recent seasons, and tested the Commodore in the leadup to the Sandown round alongside Hyundai Excel driver Blake Tracey.

21-year-old Rice hails from Wodonga, and is a logical choice given the MCM workshop is located in twin city Albury on the New South Wales side of the Murray River.

The opportunity for Rice presented itself after Aron Shields, who deputised for Chahda at Sandown and was scheduled to do so at Bathurst, was ruled out with a wrist injury.

Rice took to social media to share the news, admitting that it will be a baptism by fire at the toughest track on the Dunlop Series calendar.

"Very very cool moment for me, extremely grateful for the opportunity from Amin Chahda and the whole crew at Matt Chahda Motorsport, just a little bit daunting making my debut at the Mountain," Rice said.

"I can't thank my parents, partners and sponsors, and supporters enough for helping me to get here.

"Keen to soak in the whole experience."

Matt Chahda has stepped aside from his Dunlop Series duties to focus solely on his Supercars enduro wildcard with Brad Vaughan, who was the winner of the last Super2 race in Sandown.

Cooper Murray and Cameron McLeod have also stepped aside from Dunlop Series commitments for Bathurst, with Eggleston Motorsport set to name a replacement for Murray at a later date.