MOTORSPORT: Youlden lands at Erebus

motoring.com.au’s Luke Youlden will co-drive with the clown prince of Supercars, David Reynolds, in the 2017 endurance series at Sandown, Bathurst and the Gold Coast.

Youlden, who moves to Betty Klimenko’s Erebus Motorsport from DJR Team Penske, will make Bathurst 1000 start number 18. He joins Reynolds in the Penrite Commodore VF, which is a brand-new chassis for 2017.

“I’ve known Dave for a long time and his personality is infectious and his talent is unquestionable, so I’m really looking forward to driving with him,” Youlden said.

“Coming from the dark side back to the red team, I’m really looking forward to getting back in a Holden.

“I am hoping this car suits my natural driving style, and I know Dave is quite aggressive, so I’m looking forward to seeing if I can match him and move up the field together.”

Youlden holds the unique distinction of having made more than 40 endurance race starts since his 2000 debut, without ever contesting a V8 Supercars/Supercars sprint race.

His best result at Bathurst came when he finished third in 2003.

“Expectations are definitely podiums. I’ve had lots of podiums but no wins yet, so I really want to get that top step too,” he said.

Erebus and Reynolds expect a big year in 2017 after swapping from Mercedes-Benz to Holden in 2016 and moving workshops from the Gold Coast to Melbourne. Reynolds finished last year off with a podium in Sydney.

“I’m really excited for what’s to come,” Reynolds said. “The boys have built me a new car and it’s special because it’s a new chapter in our story.

“I’m really looking forward to our first test day next week, it’s the first time in my entire career that I’ve had a new chassis, so I’m looking forward to driving something new.”

The Erebus team also revealed the team’s second entry for new signing Dale Wood. He will enter his fourth year in the Virgin Australia Supercars Championship driving a Commodore with backing from GB Galvanizing and Advam.

His co-driver will be Kiwi Chris Pither, who drove full-time in the championship last year for Prodrive Racing Australia customer Super Black Racing.

But that team has folded and his place within the PRA structure has been taken by veteran Jason Bright, whose Mega-sponsored Ford Falcon FG X was also revealed this week. Last year’s Dunlop development series champion Garry Jacobson will share driving duties in the Pirtek Enduro Cup.

With the field set to test next week ahead of the March 2-5 Clipsal 500 championship opener, new liveries are coming thick and fast.

Garry Rogers Motorsport has shown its new Wilson Security Commodores, as well as confirming co-drivers, with up-and-comer James Golding joining new signing Garth Tander, while Richard Muscat will share with James Moffat.

Other recent reveals include the Harvey Norman-backed Nissan Altima of Swiss rookie Simona de Silvestro; the now-privateer Mobil 1 HSV Racing, which was the old Holden Racing Team and the Shell V-Power DJRTP Falcons.