The formalization of Smith’s place at BJR means that there is practically only one question mark left on the starting grid for 2022 – 7th place at KGR.
KGR has made no secret of his desire to put young kiwi Matt Payne in the car, but he will need a superlicence exemption from Motorsport Australia due to the lack of miles in supercars hardware.
A roller coaster Super2 debut in Sydney last week, where he qualified in the front row for race one and then started, should not have improved his chances of a quick promotion to the main game.
Rumor has it that Zane Goddard, who will be leaving MSR at the end of this season, will be in line for the KGR seat if Payne can’t take it.
There are significant changes in the field for 2022, led by the retirement of seven-time Supercars champion Jamie Whincup.
He will take on the role of General Manager at Triple Eight while rookie Broc Feeney will take on the # 88 T8 Holden.
Tickford will expand to four cars, current drivers Cam Waters and James Courtney, along with highly rated rookie Thomas Randle and new signing Jake Kostecki.
Jack Le Brocq will effectively replace Kostecki at Matt Stone Racing in a completely new line-up along with outgoing BJR driver Todd Hazelwood.
BJR, meanwhile, has kept Smith and Macauley Jones while Andre Heimgartner and Bryce Fullwood will join the team.
Fullwood’s place at Walkinshaw Andretti United alongside Chaz Mostert will be taken by current BJR driver Nick Percat.
Dick Johnson Racing, Team 18, Erebus Motorsport, Blanchard Racing Team and Team Sydney will all line up unchanged for the coming season.
2022 supercars field
Triple Eight Race Engineering
Shane van Gisbergen
Broc Feeney
Dick Johnson Racing
Anton De Pasquale
Will Davison
Blanchard Racing Team
Tim Slade
Tickford race
Cam Waters
James Courtney
Thomas Randle
Jake Kostecki
Kelly Grove Racing
David Reynolds
TBA
Walkinshaw Andretti United
Chaz Mostert
Nick Percat
Brad Jones Racing
André Heimgartner
Bryce solid wood
Macauley Jones
Jack Smith
Erebus Motorsport
Will Brown
Brodie Kostecki
Team 18
Mark Winterbottom
Scott Py
Team Sydney
Fabian Coulthard
Garry Jacobson
Matt Stone Racing
Jack Le Brocq
Todd Hazelwood
