RYAN Story has touched on the awkward element behind a “brutally hard decision” Dick Johnson Racing had to make a little more than 18 months ago.
That is, which of its long-time drivers, Will Davison or Anton De Pasquale, it was going to cut to accommodate the recruitment of superstar Brodie Kostecki for 2025.
Speaking on the Lucky Dogs podcast which Kostecki co-hosts, Story unsurprisingly detailed how the engineering department was extensively consulted and insisted that choosing Davison was “right for us” – even if the veteran only lasted another 12 months.
“It was a hard decision for a number of reasons,” Story explained.
“I mean, I just told you before how close a bond I have with (majority owner) Brett Ralph and the only reason why I know Brett Ralph is because of Anton.
“But Anton and I never got on personally very well, and he’d tell you that too.
“Just for whatever reason, we didn’t quite click. I don’t know why, I think that just happens in life.
“But the decision itself was difficult. And it was the same with the decision to bring Rylan Gray in this year (for) Will.
“Will is someone who is like family in a lot of ways. He’s obviously had two stints with DJR.
“We desperately tried to sign him… when Erebus made the move from southeast Queensland down to Melbourne (for 2016).”
Ralph’s company Jet Couriers still features on De Pasquale’s helmet, even with him now into his second season at Team 18.
“He (De Pasquale) doesn’t talk to me, but he talks to them,” chuckled Story, who admitted both ‘ADP’ and Kai Allen have flourished since moving on.
Of all the driver decisions DJR has faced in recent years, Story actually noted the one to pass up on Allen was easiest.
That was said not as a slight on the 2023 Super2 champion, but an honest reflection on where DJR was at the time.
“People wouldn’t be talking about Kai Allen as a future superstar today if he drove for us last year,” said Story.
“Because we wouldn’t have been able to support him the way that he would have needed.
“Fortunately now with Rylan Gray, we are able to do that.”
Kostecki leads the drivers’ championship heading into Round 3 next month at Taupō.