Steven Johnson remains with the team, but his race results are nothing to be overly praised for. He missed out on the top ten of the championship last year, and was only just able to finish inside it in 2004. These results are good, but for many of the DJR faithful not good enough. Some have questioned Steven’s presence at the team for some time now, but the fact remains he is a good driver, and his teammates haven’t quite lived up to the hype.
But for 2006 a new teammate who has lived up to the hype will be joining DJR. Replacing Glenn Seton, former Minardi test driver Will Davison has been signed to drive the #18 V8 Telecom Falcon, and is expected to do well after impressive results in his few stints in a V8 Supercar – most notably his top ten placing at the 2005 Australian Grand Prix, and finishing second on debut in the Fujitsu V8 Series.
Final Word
Johnson: A top ten finish would be highly impressive for Junior, but is probably unlikely.
Davison: His prior experience will be handy, but if his car can’t be regularly competitive he’ll miss the Top Ten.
Glenfords Tools Racing
Marcus Marshall (#20 BF Falcon)
In probably the most audacious campaign this year, Paul Cruickshank Racing has made the jump from the Fujitsu V8 Supercar Series to the top degree of Australian V8s with a single car for former Champ Car driver Marcus Marshall.
With Glenfords Tools jumping on as major sponsor, the team has a gargantuan effort ahead of them – contesting the V8 Supercar Series with a relatively untried driver. Marshall has run in enduros before but even in the ex-Team Betta #88 BA Falcon will he be able to finish inside the top twenty? Probably not, the competition from more experienced teams is likely to be too great for the team, but any results in the top twenty-five will be credible early on for the team.
Final Word
Marshall: Can’t see much better than twenty-fifth.
Fujitsu Racing
Warren Luff (#25 BF Falcon), Jose Fernandez (#26 BF Falcon)
After a tough debut year for Fujitsu Racing last season, the task to succeed doesn’t look like getting any easier.
Two new drivers in Warren Luff and Jose Fernandez have been signed to steer the #25 and #26 Fujitsu Falcons, but at this stage, it is unlikely that the team will do very well. Being pooled for testing with Ford Performance Racing has hurt the Jason Bright-owned squad, and the driving talent acquired this year will be relatively unimpressive.
