EVEN before season 2025 had finished, Team 18 had outlined its first objective for next season.
To, as General Motors’ new homologation team, be the manufacturer’s leading representative.
Which to be fair is not always a given, as evidenced the past few years on the Ford side of the fence with Dick Johnson Racing.
In replacing DJR as Ford’s HT, Triple Eight opened up a vacancy for the GM gig. It initially appeared that would go to PremiAir Racing before Team 18 edged ahead.
From that moment, announced in April, it was all up for Charlie Schwerkolt’s squad, which went on to capture four podiums (including one in the Bathurst 1000), a pole position, and a finals berth.
It wound a respectable fifth in the teams’ championship, albeit with the knowledge that there’ll be increased scrutiny going forward.
“We have got to step up obviously as the Chev homologation team for next year,” Schwerkolt said in November.
Charlie Schwerkolt. Pic: Mark Walker
And that starts with flying the GM flag best of all, while still collaborating to a degree with Camaro allies Matt Stone Racing, Erebus Motorsport and PremiAir Racing.
“We are, I think, a proven team but we still have a long way to go,” said Schwerkolt.
“Dave (Reynolds) has got to get up there a little bit more, we have got to help him get up there for next year, but all the ingredients are there.
“As I said before, it’s going to be a big challenge getting up to where (Triple Eight) are and be the lead GM team, which we should be and hopefully are.
“But it’s certainly moving in the right direction, for sure.”