![\"DJR](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Supercars-Christchurch-2026-890-copy.jpg\")
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tRylan Gray (right) with Dick Johnson Racing teammate Brodie Kostecki. Image: InSyde Media<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tRylan Gray (right) with Dick Johnson Racing teammate Brodie Kostecki. Image: InSyde Media<\/p>\n
Graduating to the main game after winning the Super2 Series with Tickford Racing in 2025, Gray sits 21st in the standings after four rounds.<\/p>\n
The 19-year-old was signed by DJR at the encouragement of lead driver Brodie Kostecki, who has taken the youngster under his wing.<\/p>\n
Kostecki is currently second in the standings with five race wins, setting a high benchmark for Gray to chase.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s so much you can absorb from him,\u201d said Gray of being teammates with Kostecki.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s won Bathurst, he\u2019s won a championship, he\u2019s won everything you want to win entering this category.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe gives me a kick up the butt if I\u2019m doing something wrong, which is actually really good in a teammate, he wants to see me do well.<\/p>\n
\u201cI want to get up there and then fight it with him, but I couldn\u2019t ask for a better teammate to be honest. It\u2019s good to have all his data and video to look over.\u201d<\/p>\n
Gray scored his first two top 10 finishes of the season last time out at Christchurch, although a lap one Sunday crash meant it ended on a sour note.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s been a pretty tough start to be honest, which I sort of expected coming into the main series,\u201d he reflected of the season to date.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe had a pretty terrible first round in New Zealand at Taupo but we turned it around pretty good for Christchurch.<\/p>\n
\u201cWith no one being there [previously], I sort of knew it would help us out a bit. We had a couple of top 10s which is good, then a not so great Sunday.\u201d<\/p>\n
Gray said qualifying has been his biggest struggle to date and the subject of recent simulation work to \u201cget that one lap nailed\u201d and fight in the top 10 consistently.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve had a lot of race pace the whole time through every single round, we just haven\u2019t really put qualifying together,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe always move forward in the races, I\u2019ve got that sorted now, we just need to qualify better.\u201d<\/p>\n
Nowhere on the Supercars calendar is qualifying more important than on the 2.41km Symmons Plains bullring.<\/p>\n
Gray scored his first Super2 pole and race win at the venue last year, but is under no illusions about the challenge ahead.<\/p>\n
\u201cTassie was a good round for me last year\u2026 but obviously the level is a lot higher in main game,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve got to put everything together.\u201d<\/p>\n
Practice for the Tasmania Super440 kicks off on Friday.<\/p>\n