TEAM 18 should have its 2026 Repco Supercars Championship driver line-up officially confirmed before next week’s Bathurst 1000 gets underway.
While tight-lipped on exact details, team owner Charlie Schwerkolt recently told V8 Sleuth that an announcement would be pre-Bathurst.
Anton De Pasquale was always a lock to stay aboard the #18 DeWalt Camaro, having enjoyed a stellar first season since joining from Dick Johnson Racing.
There had been a question mark over the #20 entry though, with David Reynolds’ future hinging on Team 18 activating a 2026 option resting in its favour.
That course of action is now widely anticipated to be taken, Reynolds having regathered form in recent months.
There has been a flurry of movement confirmations of late, including Cameron Hill departing Matt Stone Racing for Brad Jones Racing, James Golding leaving PremiAir Racing for the Blanchard Racing Team, and Bryce Fullwood being on the move from BJR.
David Reynolds. Pic: Ross Gibb
V8 Sleuth sources have meanwhile indicated Rylan Gray is the favourite to land the 2026 wildcard drive alongside Craig Lowndes.
Team 18 heads into Bathurst hungry to snap its Mountain curse, having failed to finish better than 15th in any of its past four attempts at the Great Race.
Schwerkolt’s squad was solid but unspectacular at The Bend 500, De Pasquale and Harri Jones finishing 10th with Reynolds and Lee Holdsworth 13th.
“It was okay. It was a pass, that’s it,” was Schwerkolt’s assessment.
Charlie Schwerkolt. Pic: Mark Walker
“We expected better, we wanted better. Everything went to plan but we just weren’t quite quick enough.”
As for their Bathurst curse?
“It hasn’t been great. You need a little bit of luck there and we haven’t had much luck. But we have got a bit of work to do to try to get up there for sure,” said Schwerkolt.
Track action at Mount Panorama starts Thursday October 9.