Team 18 unveils expanded engineering team
Team 18 has unveiled its expanded engineering line-up for the 2020 Supercars season.
The expansion to two cars for this season has led to a re-shuffle in the engineering department, which will be led by the experienced Phil Keed.
Manuel Sanchez has been recruited as race engineer for Mark Winterbottom, joining Team 18 after running James Golding's car at Garry Rogers Motorsport last season.
Sanchez will be swiftly reunited with Golding, who has signed on to partner Winterbottom at the long-distance races.
Mark Sylvester will fill the data engineer role for the #18 entry.
Matthew Saunders, who was Winterbottom's race engineer for the back end of the 2019 campaign, will be moved over to new signing Scott Pye, with Rory Jackermis as data engineer.
Steve Henderson will continue as team manager.
“Supercars is one of those categories that’s very skilled, and recruitment generally focuses on attributes and skillset," said Keen.
"But in this case we were prepared to accept a learning phase to ensure we secure the right balance of skills and personalities to cover the different roles in the engineering group.
“The key is if you look at the success of other teams in Supercars is not to have teams within a team, but to work together as much as you can. From that point of view we’re extremely looking forward to building this engineering group throughout the year.”
Winterbottom will continue to race the same Triple Eight-built Holden he used last season, while Pye will take over T8 chassis 888A-052, which moves to the Melbourne-squad after being raced by Shane van Gisbergen in Red Bull colours in 2019.
Previous article
Is WAU's rookie Supercars signing the real deal?
Next article
Supercars Mustang rear wing altered for 2020
About this article
| Series | Supercars |
| Drivers | Scott Pye , Mark Winterbottom |
| Teams | Team 18 |
| Author | Andrew van Leeuwen |
Supershots Bathurst
Sam Brabham drives BT-19 at Mount Panorama
Todd Kelly builds André's Bathurst 1000 engine
Can DJR still be a Supercars powerhouse after Penske?
Roger Penske's whirlwind Australian Supercars sojourn is over. After six seasons, three drivers' titles, three teams' championships and a Bathurst 1000 crown, The Captain has sold his controlling stake in Dick Johnson Racing back to the squad and walked away from the category.
Can Whincup be Triple Eight's ruthless leader?
Supercars' most successful team of the past 15 years is set for a radical shakeup next year when Jamie Whincup retires from driving and takes over the reins at Triple Eight. But does he have what it takes to be the new Roland Dane?
How a lifetime Supercars deal broke down in one year
David Reynolds inked what was effectively a lifetime deal with Erebus in 2019 – only to walk out a year later. What went wrong?
Why Supercars now needs a new "human salt harvester"
Scott McLaughlin has been a controversial figure in Supercars over the past few years but, as he heads off to a fresh challenge in IndyCar, the Australian tin-top series needs to find someone else to fill his drama-filled boots as the category enters a new era...
Why 2020 isn't McLaughlin's greatest title
Scott McLaughlin was quick to describe his third Supercars title as his best yet. But even though it didn't match the dramatic backstory of his 2018 triumph, there's a good reason for him wanting to control the narrative this time around.
Why a Bathurst finale is risky business for Supercars
The Bathurst Grand Final may provide Supercars its greatest spectacle yet – but there's a risk it will force the series to face a hard truth.
Why Scott McLaughlin must become an IndyCar driver
Scott McLaughlin, two-time and current Supercars champion, should have been making his NTT IndyCar Series debut for Team Penske at the GP of Indianapolis, but the Covid-19 pandemic forced a rescheduling that has put the brakes on his career switch. But David Malsher-Lopez explains why the New Zealander deserves this opportunity as soon as possible.
Tickford's 10-year wait for James Courtney
When the Supercars season resumes James Courtney will be a Tickford Racing driver – but it's not the first time the star driver has flirted with the famous Ford squad.
