Photo: Supercars

Garry Rogers Motorsport and Boost Mobile in Supercars stand-off

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Supercars stalwart team Garry Rogers Motorsport could leave the sport at the end of this season after a war of words has been sparked by the CEO of their title sponsor, Boost Mobile.

The CEO of Boost Mobile, Peter Adderton, has asked for Supercars to bring forwards the use of a compulsory front upright from 2021 to 2020, claiming the difference in parts across the grid are leaving their drivers behind in the battle for race wins.

“I made it clear to all the teams that are talking to us and also to Sean (Seamer, Supercars CEO) that unless they get a control upright we are not here next year,” said Adderton to Auto Action.

“It’s not a lot of expense to do it. They want to do it 2021, we want it done in 2020 or we will sit out 2020. Any sponsor other than Red Bull or Shell up the end there (sponsoring Triple Eight and DJR Team Penske respectively) that stays in this sport without a control upright … is in my opinion stupid.”

As rear suspension and brakes already a standardised product, Supercars is on track to implement control dampers from the start of next season with the uprights serving as the last piece in the puzzle in the move towards a closer, and cheaper, field for the championship.

Adderton was a part of the Australian Super Touring Championship, formed in the early 90’s, and joined GRM at the start of this season as a sponsor after two fruitless seasons as the title sponsor of Walkinshaw Andretti United.

The relationship between GRM and Boost Mobile raised eyebrows from the start of 2019 as the team let go veteran driver Garth Tander in favour of sophomore Supercars driver Richie Stanaway, leaving Tander without a full-time drive and a proper send-off from the series.

James Golding currently sits 19th in the championship standings, driving car #34 and having competed in every round so far. Team-mate Richie Stanaway had to miss several races from Sunday at Winton Raceway until The Bend Motorsport Park due to a pre-existing back injury, being replaced by Chris Pither and Michael Caruso in the meantime.

The deadline for Racing Entitlement Contracts (REC) to be submitted is next Friday, leaving GRM and Boost Mobile as well as Supercars a week to sort out their differences.