WHILE he will be absent from the Shannons SpeedSeries action this weekend at Sandown, the wheels appear to be turning in the background for Declan Fraser’s career renaissance.
The 2022 Super2 champion has split with Aston Martin-aligned GT World Challenge Australia team Volante Rosso Motorsport, but is pressing on with his dream of getting back onto the Repco Supercars Championship grid.
It’s all part of him looking to come good on a vow he made in late 2023, after losing his main game ride when Tickford Racing downsized from four cars to two.
“Trust me when I say, I am hungrier than ever to win and I will be back,” he concluded a social media announcement at that time.
Having spent one-and-a-half seasons in GTWCA and made a winning Toyota 86 cameo this month in Townsville, a second successive enduro campaign with Brad Jones Racing’s André Heimgartner awaits.
As do opportunities in the silly season, with potential openings at the likes of Team 18, Matt Stone Racing, PremiAir Racing and the Blanchard Racing Team.
Andre Heimgartner and Declan Fraser will share the #8 Camaro again this year. Pic: Supplied/Pace Images
“I feel like I did a really good job last year with André – the results didn’t reflect it but the pace was there every time we hit the track, so with silly season ramping up and my name being linked to a lot of conversations, it’s good to be back in the fight,” Fraser told V8 Sleuth.
Naturally, Fraser wouldn’t be drawn on where he senses his best bet lies.
“I think the whole thing with silly season is you have got to speak to everyone and be in front of as many people as you can,” he said.
“You don’t really know exactly what’s going on behind the scenes and where all the pieces are moving to because people want to keep their cards close to their chest. So for me, it’s just about being in the right place at the right time, talking to the right people.
“I’m pretty happy with my position at the moment as it stands and I’m just trying to work as much as possible to keep putting runs on the board like I did a couple of weeks ago in the 86 series and like I’m going to do in the enduros when they come around.”
Declan Fraser. Pic: Supplied/Pace Images
The 24-year-old has been refining his craft under the tutelage of Paul Morris, something which he recently complemented with a trip to work with UK-based driver coach Rob Wilson.
Fraser is sure he’d return to the big stage a much more complete package if given the chance.
“If you look up and down the field, everyone when it’s their second year or their third year especially, they come to life. I raced against Cam (Hill), I raced against Matt (Payne) and those guys have gone out and won Supercars races and I beat them to a championship,” he said.
Fraser and his 2025 co-driver peers are anticipated to do the bulk of the driving at the upcoming Queensland Raceway pre-enduro test on August 12.