Penske exits Supercars, DJR to remain for 2021
After three drivers’ championships, three teams’ championships, 56 race wins and 62 pole positions in six seasons with Dick Johnson Racing, Team Penske are ending their involvement in Supercars.
While Team Penske may be gone, Dick Johnson Racing (DJR) have confirmed they’re staying, with 2021 to mark DJR’s 40th season in Australian Touring Car competition.
“As we enter the next chapter at DJR, we look forward to what lies ahead for our team,” said team founder Dick Johnson. “It has been an honour to partner with Roger Penske and everyone from Team Penske over these last six seasons, but we understand the challenges that everyone has faced worldwide in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. We’re thankful that we were able to conclude our partnership with our third driver and team championships together this season.”
DJR will retain Shell V-Power sponsorship and the team will continue to run Mustangs in 2021, too, but the driver lineup is yet to be confirmed, with Scott McLaughlin leaving the team to drive for Team Penske in the IndyCar Series in the US and Fabian Coulthard considered unlikely to be retained for the year ahead, following a statement by DJR Team Manager Ryan Story that they are looking for TWO new drivers.
“We want to thank Scott for his professionalism on and off the track. He is a generational talent and we are excited he will join us as a co-driver at next year’s Repco Bathurst 1000 in October.
“We know Scott is in a great position with Team Penske for the future and we wish him all the luck in the world as he begins his INDYCAR career,” Johnson added.
While early rumours have linked Will Davison and Anton DePasquale to DJR, the team say they will announce their driver lineup and further details on their Supercar programme for 2021 in the coming weeks