MOTORSPORT: Dick goes back to the future

It will be back to the future at the Clipsal 500 V8 Supercars championship opener in early March when the two Ford Falcon FG Xs entered by category icon Dick Johnson are decked out in Shell colours for the first time since 2004.

Shell was DJR’s primary backer for 17 years, winning three drivers’ championships – two of Dick’s five and another one for John Bowe -- together and two Bathurst 1000s in an era spanned by the Group A Ford Sierras and local Australian V8 formula with the Falcon.

While Shell has retained a small involvement since 2004 the team has had its ups and downs, culminating in US motor racing hero Roger Penske taking majority control of the operation and transforming it into DJR Team Penske last year.

Shell Helix colours did return in 2015 at selected rounds for the single team entry run for Scott Pye, but the operation expands back to two cars for 2016 with Fabian Coulthard joining from Brad Jones Racing.

Shell colours will feature again this year at selected rounds as part of a rolling model of primary sponsorships that promote the team’s backers such as Shell, as well as Penske’s burgeoning transport industry interests in Australia and New Zealand.

"Over the years we have enjoyed fantastic support and genuine friendship from many people at Shell and (licensee) Viva Energy,” Johnson said. “Last year Scott Pye delivered fourth in Darwin and fifth in Townsville with the Shell Helix Falcon and we’re looking for even better this year.”

Coulthard will have his first run for the team today, giving his brand new chassis a 60km shakedown run at Queensland Raceway. The 33-year-old Kiwi and Pye will then take part in a ride program.

Coulthard will continue his relationship with BJR engineer Phil Keed at DJR Team Penske, while former Prodrive engineer Adam de Borre will work with Pye, after three years calling the shots for young gun Chaz Mostert in the championship.

Coulthard has often been a front-runner over the last three seasons, winning at least one race each year and at different points looming into contention for the championship. But BJR has been unable to sustain a full season campaign.

“I’m just looking forward to hopping in and seeing what the car’s like for my own peace of mind. What I’ve seen on the outside is pretty good, so I’m looking forward to getting in and driving it,” Coulthard told the official v8supercars.com.au website.

Meanwhile, with the season-launching supertest abandoned this year, teams will commence a series of test days in Queensland and Victoria next week as they warm up for the Clipsal.

Only the second seat at Lucas Dumbrell Motorsport remains unfilled at this point, with young New Zealander Andre Heimgartner reportedly the favourite to fill it.

New season liveries have been progressively revealed over the summer; so far they have included Craig Lowndes and Team Vortex, subtle modifications to the Red Bull Racing Commodores to be raced by Jamie Whincup and new signing Shane van Gisbergen, BJR showing off the look of new signing Tim Slade’s Freightliner Commodore VF and LDM departee Tim Blanchard’s Cooldrive livery, the Ice Break Falcon of Chris Pither, the Penrite and Fitness Plus liveries for the Erebus Holden Commodores of David Reynolds and rookie Aaren Russell and – all the way back in early December – the Bottle-O colours reigning champion Mark Winterbottom will race under in 2016.