AutoAction
FREE DIGITAL MAGAZINE SIGN UP

Jones not changing four-car model

Brad Jones Racing at Taupo

By Thomas Miles

Whilst Brad Jones Racing is a contender to join Toyota, it has no intentions on moving away from its four-car model.

As General Motors hones in on establishing its new homologation team to replace Triple Eight, attention is turning to what will happen to some of the incumbents.

Brad Jones Racing has been part of the General Motors family since 2008, but recent reports suggest the partnership could be coming to an end.

The Albury team has been hinted at switching to Toyota and run alongside homologation team WAU in fielding four new Gen3 Supras.

In addition to the WAU announcement, Toyota made it clear it wanted a secondary squad and no obvious candidates have been established.

But in the build up to the Taupo Super440 Brad Jones Racing has been linked with the Japanese brand.

Speaking today at Taupo, Jones admitted he is considering his options for 2026.

Whilst he could not confirm a timeline, he was adamant that whatever he does, the team will carry on running four cars.

“I am just looking at what is available and at some point in the not-too-distant future I will make a decision,” Jones said.

“But right now we are just focused on the day to day.

“I will be running four cars no matter what we are doing.

“I have a model that works really well with four cars and if I cut back to two, I will have to get rid of half of my people and I do not want to do that.

Jones at the Australian gp

Brad Jones. image pace images

“It won’t make us any better or worse, it will just cut the business in half.

“You go through all that pain of growing the team, it is punishing at the time, but once you get over the hump you have enough people, infrastructure and sponsorship to run the cars properly it does not matter how many cars you have.”

General Motors will announce the homologation team soon and Jones hinted it will not be a front running squad like Triple Eight.

“My position on the HT is that it should be selected from the manufacturer, we are representing them,” he said.

“But at the end of the day whoever they pick is whoever they pick. They have some really interesting things going on in the background in all seriousness in what they are trying to achieve.

“One thing I will say about GM is that the homologation team will not be a dominant member of the group like currently.

“It won’t be like this is the homologation team and everything gets built there and sent back to the teams.

“They have gone to great pains to explain that it definitely is going to be a more inclusive program than what we currently see.

“Not saying there is anything wrong with what we have in Triple Eight but they feel a need there is a need to have everyone closely aligned.”

Image: Pace Images/Supplied

Taupo Super440

Practice 1 – 1: A. Heimgartner 1:26.8830 2: Anton De Pasquale +0.0258 3: Matt Payne +0.0830

Practice 2 – 1: Ryan Wood 1:25.9778; 2: Brodie Kostecki +0.0435; 3: Thomas Randle +0.0838

Sat 8.25-8.55: Supercars Race 8 Qualifying

Sat 9.05-9.35: Supercars Race 9 Qualifying

Sat 10.50: Supercars Race 8 (37 laps)

Sat 14.05: Supercars Race 9 (37 laps)

Sun 8.35-9.05: Supercars Race 10 Qualifying

Sun 10.50-11.35: Supercars Race 10 Top 10 Shootout

Sun 13.05: Supercars Race 10 (61 laps)

Buy the new issue of Auto Action Premium HERE

Read the new issue of Auto Action Digital HERE

Don’t forget the print edition of Auto Action available via subscription here or you can purchase a copy of the latest issue from one of our outlets here. For more of the latest motorsport newssubscribe to AUTO ACTION magazine.

Auto Action Premium On Sale Now