The strongest Dunlop Super3 grid since the 2019 season finale’ will front for the second round of the 2021 series at Winton Motor Raceway next week.

18-cars are entered for the May 28-30 event, one which will see the return of both title-winning teams and drivers to the grid.

The entry list is headlined by the return of Brad Jones Racing to the Super3 fold, the Albury-based team having claimed the then-V8 Touring Cars title in 2017 with current Supercars racer Jack Smith. The team also gave current Super2 frontrunner Josh Fife his Supercars debut.

BJR will field their VE Commodore for young-gun Elly Morrow, who makes the leap into circuit racing from success with the Tom Williamson Motorsport karting squad.

TWM is the official BJR junior development team, with Morrow having sampled a Supercar at the end of the 2020 season during a TWM / BJR evaluation day at Winton.

Further details of her campaign will be confirmed in the lead-up to the event next week.

While BJR brings the next generation of talent into the series, the inaugural V8TC / Super3 champion Chris Smerdon will also return to the track next weekend.

Aboard his familiar ex-Stone Brothers Racing FG Falcon, Smerdon is a six-time round winner and remains the series’ most experienced driver; Winton to mark his 49th round.

Others joining the expanded Winton grid include James Masterton, who will make his first Super3 start since last October’s round at the Bathurst 1000.

Regular Super3 contenders Mark Tracey (BF Falcon), Garry Hills (VE Commodore) and Gary Collins (VE Commodore) will each make their respective first starts of the season at Winton, while newcomer David Murphy joins the fray for the first time aboard an FG Falcon.

The Dunlop Super3 Series will effectively see a reboot of the championship race following the decision by points leader Jon McCorkindale to step up to the Dunlop Super2 series this weekend.

After winning the opening round at Mount Panorama, the New South Wales driver holds a 36-point lead over Michael Anderson in the championship however will be ineligible to score Super3 points at Winton thanks to his step up in category.

That leaves Anderson in the box seat to take the most advantage, though just 21 points separate the Bathurst driver, Brendan Strong, Reef McCarthy and fellow young-gun Nash Morris in second through fifth in the standings following round one.

The Dunlop Super3 Series will again race on the same grid as the Dunlop Super2 series at Winton next weekend.

After a pair of 40-minute practice sessions on Friday (May 28), the field will qualify on Saturday morning prior to the opening race set for 2:30pm local time that afternoon.

That process will be repeated on Sunday, with all of Saturday and Sunday’s action to be broadcast live on Fox Sports 506 and Kayo Sports.

LIAM CURKPATRICK – Category Manager

“18 cars is a great result and when combined with the Dunlop Super2 grid it’s going to be a packed race track at Winton,” Curkpatrick said.

“The mix of young drivers looking to step up through the ranks and those doing it as much for the enjoyment and the competition shows why the category continues to be so popular.

“Nine of the top 10 drivers in the Super2 series standings have raced in Super3 which shows how valuable a stepping stone it is.

“We’ll also welcome back some familiar faces at Winton with arguably the most competitive Super3 Cup grid the series has ever seen, including some drivers’ new to the series.

“We had an exciting start to the Super3 Series at Bathurst in February and with 18-cars on the grid next week that will surely continue on to Winton.”