Blanchard: Love has put 'brutal' rookie year in memory bank

Tim Blanchard says Aaron Love has "put a lot in the memory bank" for a rebound in 2025 after a "brutal" rookie Supercars campaign for the rising star.

Blanchard Racing Team entered 2024 with new drivers in Love and 2010 champion James Courtney, who claimed the team's three top 10 race finishes.

The team's first season as a two-car squad showed glimpses of speed, but Courtney and Love ended the year 21st and 24th through 12 rounds.

Love ended 2024 with a stunning Shootout berth in Adelaide, but ultimately came away with dual finishes of 21st.

Love isn't the first rookie to be put through the wringer, with Jaxon Evans crashing heavily on the final day in Adelaide. Even Supercars' greatest of all time, Jamie Whincup, was sacked by Garry Rogers Motorsport after his maiden season.

Both drivers are contracted to return next season, with Courtney set to retire after 2025.

“James had a solid year; he has been maximising what we’ve given him and encouraging the whole team," Blanchard said.

"Aaron Love has had a brutal first year, like many other people in the past, but he has put a lot in the memory bank for next year.”

Blanchard said the team's double Shootout berth in Adelaide, while lucky, was a "reflection of the changes we’ve been making behind the scenes."

BRT is no stranger to extracting speed, notably impressing with several top 10 runs in its time as a one-car squad with Tim Slade and Todd Hazelwood between 2021 and 2023.

After some mid-season engineer changes, Blanchard said BRT has a "stable group" and is well-placed for its second season with two cars.

“It’s been quite a tough year but for the last couple of rounds we have definitely taken a step forward, especially on James Courtney's car," Blanchard said.

“We got lucky with qualifying on Saturday but to have two cars in the Top Ten Shootout was a memorable day, and a reflection of the changes we’ve been making behind the scenes.

“The things we’ve been working on are definitely paying off and we’re looking forward to next year. We’ve got a stable group and we’re looking to keep the team moving forward."