MEMBERS IN MOTORSPORT COOLDRIVE: A SUPERCARS SUCCESS STORY

There is no arguing the fact that CoolDrive Auto Parts is making its mark in the land of Supercars

The leading aftermarket parts company is the operator of the Blanchard Racing Team (BRT), which launched in 2021 as a standalone outfit following four years as a satellite team to Brad Jones Racing (under the moniker of Tim Blanchard Racing).

As they got ready to embark on their third full time season following strong 2021 and 2022 showings, the team claimed an important early win – being the first to complete the build of their Gen3 Supercar; hitting the track with the CoolDrive Racing Ford Mustang at Winton Motor Raceway on the 1st of February with new recruit Todd Hazelwood behind the wheel.

This fantastic achievement was the latest in a list of wins for the company and the team, with CoolDrive Auto Parts approved as the supplier of an exhaustive list of Gen3 control products for the Supercars Championship, and an expansion into Super2 with up-and-coming racer Aaron Love at the wheel.

Gen3 race won

The CoolDrive Racing BRT Ford Mustang was built completely in-house at the BRT workshop, with the squad taking the opportunity at Winton to unveil not only the car, but also its 2023 warpaint.

“The team at BRT have done a superb job with the build of this brand new Mustang. They have aimed for perfection in every aspect, and when you look closely at the car, you can truly see the attention to detail. I’m working harder than ever to ensure the long hours, late nights and commitment this team has made will be rewarded with some great results in 2023,” Todd said.

For Blanchard Racing Team Co-Principal, John Blanchard, the opportunity to be the first to complete a car to the new regulations was a source of great pride.

“The effort that Mirko (De Rosa) and the entire crew put into the build is incredible, it is a tribute to the flexibility of a single-car operation,” John said.

“The build of the new Gen3 car started back in September of last year when we started planning and preparing our resources in anticipation. We significantly increased our manufacturing capabilities, minimised outside commitments, picked up parts to save time on freight no matter where in the country they were, built as many components in house as possible to minimise reliance on third parties and just worked hard and long hours.

“I am very proud of everyone in our business and team for what they have achieved to get this car on track by 1 February – it has been a real team effort. The wider CoolDrive and entire BRT businesses have been heavily involved in a massive collaborative effort, whether it is leveraging our product sourcing and supply chain capabilities, our technical support of the components, or just simply picking up parts to save time on freight.

“CoolDrive has supplied nearly 90 components to the Gen3 build working closely with Supercars. It has been imperative that we are transparent with the teams and we are confident that any component available to BRT has been also available to other teams in the same timeframe.

“It’s obviously a very exciting time for Supercars with the introduction of the Gen3 project, which will truly level the playing field for competitors. We are looking forward to a big season, paying off the long hours, and the blood, sweat and tears the crew have put into this program.”

A key Supercars supplier

Supercars has approved CoolDrive Auto Parts to supply an exhaustive list of Gen3 components including bodywork latches, electrical sensors and hardware, filters, fire extinguishers, flywheels, fuel systems, heat shields, steering columns, starter motors, steering racks and hardware, steering wheels, wheels and windscreens.

“The list that CoolDrive has been approved to supply for the Gen3 cars covers all aspects of the vehicles and continues to grow, as the Supercars category recognises the efficiency with which the CoolDrive business operates,” CoolDrive Auto Parts Business Development Manager – Performance, Mathew Nilsson, said.

“The supply of parts by CoolDrive will be threefold, utilising our relationship with existing Racer Industries suppliers, our existing supply chains, products and suppliers, both of which will be complemented by the establishment of new supplier relationships.”

CoolDrive’s distribution centres will form the primary basis for the warehousing and distribution of approved parts, supported by the everexpanding branch network across Australia. At race events, a select range of spare parts and components will be available for Supercars teams via the Blanchard Racing team transporter, with selected Championship events also hosting the Racer Industries trackside store.

In a further display of its motorsport prowess, CoolDrive is also handling the supply of categoryspecific items for Super2 and Super3, including the control wheels, fire systems and fuel cells for the Supercars category, where Racer Industries is the sole appointed supplier.

An expanding effort

The Blanchard Racing Team has expanded to two cars for 2023 with young gun Aaron Love joining the squad in a PETRONAS Lubricants-backed Ford Mustang in the Super2 Series.

A product of Formula 4 and the Porsche Motorsport ladder, Aaron proved to be a revelation in the 2022 Australian Carrera Cup, finishing second in the final standings with 12 wins from 17 races, despite missing two events with conflicting race commitments overseas.

Aaron is campaigning the same chassis the team utilised in the Supercars main game over the past two seasons, carrying PETRONAS Lubricants branding – since 2018, CoolDrive Auto Parts has partnered with PETRONAS Lubricants to supply its leading products to the workshops of Australia.

“We’re running a new car for Super2 and the field has a lot of depth with many of the drivers holding a good amount of experience in these cars already so it will be tough, but with BRT being the team that is, I know we are well prepared,” Aaron said.

The PETRONAS Lubricants livery is reminiscent of the hues carried by BRT co-principal Tim Blanchard during wildcard appearances in the 2019 Supercars Championship.

“We have been thrilled to welcome Aaron and PETRONAS Lubricants to BRT for 2023. We are excited to be launching our Super 2 program with a rising star in Aaron, supported by a well-known brand such as PETRONAS Lubricants. This is an important step for BRT, and we are looking forward to what we can achieve this year,” Tim said. To learn more about CoolDrive Auto Parts, visit www.cooldrive.com.au