MOTORPSORT: Penske recruits from Triple Eight again

The rivalry between dominant Supercars outfit Triple Eight and its emerging challenger DJR Team Penske is set to hike up another notch with Alex Premat swapping camps.

The Frenchman will now co-drive for DJR Team Penske reuniting with Scott McLaughlin for the Pirtek Enduro Cup races. Curiously, it is the second Frenchman DJR Team Penske has signed from Triple Eight in the last few months following on from the move of technical guru Ludo Lacroix.

Las Vegas-based Premat co-drove with Shane van Gisbergen (pictured) in last year’s PEC, which comprises the Sandown 500, Bathurst 1000 and Gold Coast 600. His virtually flawless performances played a n important role in the Kiwi eventually defeating Red Bull Holden team-mate Jamie Whincup for the drivers’ championship.

Triple Eight has moved quickly to replace Premat, signing Porsche young gun Matt Campbell, who made an impressive debut in the PEC co-driving the carsales.com.au Nissan with Todd Kelly.

Premat and McLaughlin were team-mates at Garry Rogers Motorsport in 2013 and then co-drove together on 2014-15 in the PEC before Premat was snaffled by Triple Eight. Apart from making a super-fast competition they are also good friends.

McLaughlin moves to DJR Team Penske from GRM this season on a multi-year big bucks deal.

“We've been watching Matt for a while now and have been super impressed by his speed and maturity driving a range of different cars,” Triple Eight team boss Roland Dane said in a press release.

“The chance to have such a great young talent driving with us this year was too tempting to pass up. Plus he was Shane’s number one choice to share his Red Bull Holden Racing Team Commodore. We try to give our drivers what they ask for,” Dane stated.