Ex-Whincup Commodore for hazel | supercars



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Todd Hazelwood will have Jamie Whincup's Commodore ZB 2018 at his disposal next season, while Matt Stone Racing is looking to get up after a tough rookie campaign.

MSR bought the current No. 1 Red Bull Holden, which was built nine earlier this year and has won five races in Whincup's hands.

Hazelwood will have its first order from the ZB at Queensland Raceway on December 11th, when MSR will use its last day of testing in 2018.

The driver and team winners of the 2017 Dunlop Super2 Series have qualified for the main game this year, where Hazelwood finished last in the standings.

MSR took advantage of his ex-DJR Team Penske Ford mid-season, returning to the Triple Eight-built VF Commodore that he had used in Super2 before moving to a ZB for 2019.

"The big problem with us, when we made the controversial decision to spend the mid-season, was pretty much next year," Matt Stone told Supercars.com after the final of the season in Newcastle.

"We wanted to know what the partnership we had with Triple Eight was and how to build that relationship so that we can get to work next year.

"It's a complete technical alliance, we get Jamie Whincup's current car, a proven and proven alliance.

"We will have all this in addition to putting our staff and equipment up to date, so that next year there will be no more excuses, it is time to continue building."

Whincup is likely to make tricks during the handover Dec. 11, as part of the customer relationship that will also include MSR receiving assistance on the circuit next year.

The three current Triple Eight ZBs have now been awarded and collector Scott Taylor has purchased Bathurst winner Craig Lowndes' car.

Shane van Gisbergen will remain in his 2018 mount when the team will be reduced to two entries next year, while a new chassis is under construction for Whincup.

A difficult transition

Todd Hazelwood

Stone admits that the progression to the high end of Supercars has been more difficult than expected, following the success of MSR in Super2.

In addition to the move from Ford to Holden in August, the year also included a mid – year change of direction.

Former Tekno Autosports leader, Steve Greer, joined MSR as a team leader early in the year, but left after the Sandown 500, while Stone was assuming his duties.

Since then, further adjustments have been made to the team structure for 2019, including the arrival of Team Leader Jason McDermott, a long-time MSR employee.

"It was always going to be a challenge. We never, never thought we could succeed right away, "Stone said.

"It's really harder than we imagined, but we've always been on the long distance, it was always years two and three, so we're on the right track.

"We are still a young team with a young driver, so we do not plan to win and win next year, but we want to be back from the back row and steadily in the middle of the field."

MSR will run its former DJRTP Falcon alongside the ZB on December 11th. Brit Abbie Eaton will enjoy her first race in a Supercar aboard the Ford while she's aiming for a spot on the Super2 grid.

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