Tim Blanchard and David Russell will join regular Jack Daniel's Racing drivers Todd and Rick Kelly for September's Sandown 500 and Australia's Great Race, the Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000 in October.
Blanchard will step aboard the #7 Holden to partner Todd Kelly, with Russell to share the #15 Commodore of Rick Kelly.
Both drivers are already part of the Jack Daniel's Racing endurance fabric, with Russell having co-driven Todd Kelly in 2011, while Blanchard drove the #16 Kelly Racing entry alongside former driver David Reynolds.
Russell currently drives in the Dunlop V8 Series with Kelly Racing's Dreamtime Racing and he stepped aboard the Pepsi Max Crew Commodore in Tasmania to substitute for Greg Murphy, who missed that race with a back injury. Blanchard also races in the Dunlop series as part of MW Motorsport.
Both drivers will take part in the designated co-drivers' only practice session, as well as the next practice on Friday at this weekend's Phillip island 300.
Todd and Rick Kelly will then take over the cars for the final Friday session, ahead of the weekend's practice, qualifying and races at Phillip Island.
The Phillip Island 300 will be run exclusively on the hard Dunlop race tyre; something that both Kelly brothers are looking forward to at a track they rate as one of the best in the V8 Supercars Championship.
Rick Kelly - Speaking about David Russell
"He knows us very well and knows the equipment as well," said Rick Kelly.
"It's very important in the endurance races to have a driver that is either doing the Dunlop Series or doing a lot of racing.
"We're confident that it's a pairing that is a very strong one and a combination that can win the endurance races."
Rick Kelly - Speaking about Phillip Island this weekend
"I'm excited about having just the hard tyre this weekend," said Rick Kelly.
"It gives us some consistency not having to worry about setting the car up for two different types of tyre.
"The soft tyre has shown that if you put it on the wrong time you can fire backwards at a million miles an hour if you don't look after it very well.
"It's a track we love as well and I believe we are better suited to the hard tyre and it should produce some great racing on this circuit."
Todd Kelly - Speaking about Tim Blanchard
"I'm rapt to have Tim Blanchard on-board this year," said Todd Kelly.
"He did a great job for our Kelly Racing operation last year and really surprised us with not only his pace, but also his consistency and most importantly in endurance racing, his reliability and how he looked after the car.
"It will be good to get him in my car this weekend for at least two practice sessions and for me to really sit back and watch how he goes about it.
"I'm sure he will offer plenty for us later in the year, but also this weekend he will add to our efforts in getting the car dialled in for the Phillip Island races.
Todd Kelly - Speaking about Phillip Island this weekend
"It's good to get back to Phillip Island and race on the type of circuit that I really enjoy," said Todd Kelly.
"We have been to a lot of street circuits this year with fairly slow speed corners at a lot of those tracks.
"So to get on a track where you can really open the cars up on the hard tyre I'm sure will produce some pretty cool racing.
"We normally go well here and certainly traditionally better than the tracks we have been to recently. So hopefully this is a round where we get a few points for both Jack Daniel's Racing cars and Rick and I move up the standings."
David Russell - Speaking about driving with Rick Kelly
"It's great to be back in the JD garage that is for sure," said David Russell.
"It's good to have that continuity. I have been in the cars before, but obviously a switch this year to partner Rick which is something I am relishing.
"I get a feel for the car as there has been some changes since Bathurst last year and the guys have been working on some developments, so I'm really looking forward to this weekend at Phillip Island."
Tim Blanchard - Speaking about driving with Todd Kelly
"It's just fantastic to be in the same organisation for two years in a row and gives everyone some continuity," said Tim Blanchard.
"To be representing a brand like Jack Daniel's is a great opportunity for me.
"This weekend is all about getting a base setup for Todd to use for the rest of the meeting.
"It also gives me the opportunity to get used to driving one of the Kelly Racing cars against a full field of V8s."
Tim Blanchard - #7 Jack Daniels Holden Commodore
Date of Birth: 21/06/1987
Place of Birth: Melbourne, Vic
Lives: Melbourne, Vic
Marital Status: Single
Height: 178cm
Weight: 78kg
Nickname: Timmy or TB
Hobbies & Interests: Snowboarding, Tennis & Karting
Current Series: Dunlop V8 Supercar Series with MW Motorsport
2011 Endurance Race results (with David Reynolds in Car #16)
2011 L&H 500 Driver B Qualifying: 12th
2011 L&H 500 Driver B Qualifying Race: 19th
2011 L&H 500 Finish: 6th
2011 Bathurst 1000 Qualifying: David Reynolds qualified Car #16 in 7th
2011 Bathurst 1000 Race: 19th (with David Reynolds in Car #16)
V8 Supercar Championship Series Results:
Debut: 2011 (with David Reynolds in Car #16)
Best Qualifying: 12th - 2011 Driver B-Qualifying, L&H 500
Best Race Finish: 6th (2011 L&H 500 with David Reynolds in Car #16)
Podium Finishes: Nil
Top 10 Finish in Race: 1 (L&H 500 - 2011)
Podium Finishes: Nil
David Russell - #15 Jack Daniels Holden Commodore:
Date of Birth: 04/01/1982
Place of Birth: Casino, NSW
Lives: Brisbane, Qld
Marital Status: Married
Height: 176cm
Weight: 72kg
Nickname: Coighty
Hobbies and Interests: Extreme Sports, Water Skiing, Motocross
Current Series: Dunlop V8 Supercar Series with Dreamtime Racing
2011 Endurance Race results (with Todd Kelly in Car #7):
2011 L&H 500 Driver B Qualifying: 18th
2011 L&H 500 Driver B Qualifying Race: 20th
2011 L&H 500 Finish: 14th (with Todd Kelly in Car #7)
2011 Bathurst 1000 Qualifying: Todd Kelly qualified Car #7 in 19th
2011 Bathurst 1000 Race: 24th (with Todd Kelly in Car #7)
V8 Supercar Championship Series Results:
Debut: 2003 (with Jose Fernandez)
Best Qualifying: 25th - Symmons Plains 2012 (in Car #11 deputising for Greg Murphy)
Best Race Finish: 14th (2011 L&H 500 with Todd Kelly in Car #7)
Podium Finishes: nil
Top 10 Finish in Race: nil
NB: Won pole position and both races in the Fujitsu V8 Supercars Series round at Bathurst in 2010 and won Class B in 2011 Bathurst 12 Hour.
2012 V8 Supercars Championship after nine of 29 races
1. Jamie Whincup 1095 points
2. Will Davison 1066
3. Mark Winterbottom 935
4. Craig Lowndes 779
5. Lee Holdsworth 737
6. Shane van Gisbergen 695
7. Fabian Coulthard 694
8. Tim Slade 681
9. Garth Tander 618
10. Rick Kelly 571
12. Todd Kelly 507
PHILLIP ISLAND DETAILS:
Circuit: Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit
Location: Phillip Island, Victoria
Circuit Length: 4.445 kilometres
Format:
Friday: 2 x 30min & 2 x 20min practice sessions
Saturday: 1 x 30min practice, 1 x 20min qualifying & 1 x 32 lap race
Sunday: 1 x 30min practice, 1 x 20min qualifying & 1 x 45 lap race
Tyres: Hard tyres
2011 Results:
Note: the 2011 race was a 500km endurance event
2011 Qualifying Pole Winner: Will Davison/Luke Youlden
2011 Race Winner: Mark Skaife/Craig Lowndes
WEEKEND SCHEDULE
The times below are AEST
Friday, May 18:
Practice 0: 11.40am 12.10pm (Co-drivers only)
Practice 1: 1.10pm 1.40pm (Lower 50% of grid only)
Practice 2: 2.20pm 2.40pm (All)
Practice 3: 2.55pm 3.15pm (All)
Saturday, May 19:
Practice 4: 10.10am 10.40am
Qualifying Race 10: 1.25pm 1.45pm
Race 10: 4.05pm 5.15pm (32 laps/140km)
Sunday, May 20:
Practice 5: 10.05am 10.35am
Qualifying Race 11: 1.00pm 1.20pm
Race 11: 3.40pm 5.15pm (45 laps/200km)
TELEVISION SCHEDULE
Times subject to amendment, please check local guides:
Seven Network & 7Mate
Saturday, May 19:
12.00pm 3.30pm Qualifying & Race 10 (Perth) 7Mate
1.30pm 5.00pm Qualifying & Race 10 (Adelaide) 7Mate
2.00pm 5.30pm Qualifying & Race 10 (Sydney, Brisbane) Channel 7
2.00pm 5.30pm Qualifying & Race 10 (Melbourne) 7Mate
Sunday, May 20:
12.00pm 3.30pm Qualifying & Race 11 (Perth) 7Mate
1.30pm 5.00pm Qualifying & Race 11 (Adelaide) 7Mate
2.00pm 5.30pm Qualifying & Race 11 (Sydney, Brisbane) Channel 7
2.00pm 5.30pm Qualifying & Race 11 (Melbourne) 7Mate
A one hour highlights package of each race is broadcast in each market late on Saturday and Sunday, check times and stations for details
