Photo: JBR

Jim Beam Racing breaks tradition

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For the first time in more than 30 years the #17 Falcon made famous by Dick Johnson will not be piloted by the Johnson name, with Steve Johnson set to saddle up in Will Davison’s #18 Jim Beam Racing entry at the Phillip Island and Bathurst V8 Supercar events.

Davison and Johnson will partner for the V8 Supercar season of endurance with Steve Owen and Warren Luff to combine as Jim Beam Racing’s second pairing.

Having combined for a thrilling podium finish at last year’s Bathurst event, Johnson and Davison are intent on striving for even better results this time round.

The decision was made to pair the strongest combination in Davison’s #18 Jim Beam Falcon that scored a round win at Eastern Creek earlier this year and a podium at the Championship’s most recent round at Winton Motor Raceway.

“It’s been a tough one, but we (Dick, Charlie and I) believe we have the right combination in the right cars in order to give the team the best chance of success,” said Sporting Director Adrian Burgess.

“We just feel that our best chance for the best possible result was for Will and Steve to drive the #18 car,” said Burgess.

Coming off a sanctioned Test Day at Queensland Raceway on Monday where all four endurance drivers completed valuable laps, the team is confident of some solid endurance race results and are committed to working towards another podium finish at Bathurst.

Though it would have been nice for the tradition to carry on, Dick Johnson was diplomatic when asked about the fact the number he made famous would not seat a Johnson in the coming rounds.

“Unfortunately the sport has moved on from sentimental things like that and we have seen some other long standing V8 Supercar partnerships with great sentimental value ended this year as well,” explained Johnson.

“We need to focus on what’s best for Jim Beam Racing on the results side on things, and we have made decisions based on the best interests of the team.”

“Make no mistake, we race to win and that’s what we aim to do at the upcoming endurance events, Steve and Will were brilliant at Bathurst last year and I have some great memories at the mountain; with a bit of luck this year will be just as memorable,” he said.