Team 18 is proud to reveal a special addition to the livery for Mark Winterbottom’s #18 DEWALT Racing Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 for his 600th race start in Race 7 of the 2023 Repco Supercars Championship at the Perth SuperSprint on 28-30 April.
Winterbottom will become the third driver in Supercars’ history to make his 600th race start, behind Craig Lowndes and Garth Tander.
The DEWALT Camaro’s livery features the traditional bold black and yellow colours of DEWALT, with a sticker on the rear-quarter panel paying tribute to Winterbottom’s milestone race, while the team has changed Winterbottom’s race number from 18 to 600 for the event.
The Western Sydney-born, Melbourne-based driver is one of the most experienced and successful drivers in the series’ history. He has been a mainstay in the Supercars paddock for over 20 years, and his longevity and consistency has earned ‘Frosty’ a legion of fans.
Through 599 races, he has amassed 38 race wins, 117 podium finishes, and 36 pole positions, including the coveted Bathurst 1000 in 2013 and the biggest prize in the Championship in 2015.
While Winterbottom commented on the significance of the milestone, the driver and team are fully focussed on delivering a top performance at the upcoming Perth SuperSprint and the remainder of the 2023 Repco Supercars Championship.
“I go to Perth trying to get a result. That’s what I go there for. But, I think we’ve got a good opportunity. We’re going okay at the moment and I think as the year goes on we’re going to get better and better,” said Winterbottom.
“I’m also aware that, 600 race starts is something I’m pretty proud of. To be in the game for such a long time and have people believe in you, sponsors, team owners, and the crew around you and all that sort of side is a pretty special moment.
“I’ll be very grateful when that 600th race starts, but I’ll enjoy it even more if we get a good result.
“I think the Grand Prix result-wise was a bad weekend. But I look at the positives and I think, we’re very fast, we topped practice, we’re very fast in qualifying. We were a bit unlucky with weather, but we were top five pace in qualifying and most sessions we went out.
“We got beaten up a bit, but the goal is to go to Perth, use what we’ve done well, fix what we didn’t do well, and work for a result.
“I’m really in sync with the car, which is a good feeling. I think, I was quite disconnected from the previous car where this one, I really know what I want and what I’m after.
“It’s very clear to me where our weakness is and we’ve got a great group of guys and girls that are working hard trying to fix that weakness. So it’s not like the old car where you had to develop something, we’ve all got the same tools underneath us. I think a qualifying car is close for me from the last round, but the race car is our focus.
Since joining Team 18 in 2019, Winterbottom’s experience and expertise have been instrumental in helping the Charlie Schwerkolt-owned squad establish itself as a competitive outfit, providing valuable feedback and contributing to the team’s ongoing development and performance.
“Frosty is a champion of the sport, and we’re thrilled to celebrate his 600th race start with this special addition to the DEWALT livery for such a significant occasion,” said Team 18 Owner Charlie Schwerkolt.
“Frosty’s longevity in the sport is a testament to his talent, attitude and passion for the sport, and his experience and insight have served us well to strengthen the team.
“He has adapted to the new generation of Supercars so well straight out of the gate, and we know there’s more to come from him into the future.”
The #600 DEWALT Racing Team 18 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1will be a standout presence on track at this weekend’s Perth SuperSprint at Carco.com.au Raceway, ahead of Winterbottom’s 600th race start in Race 7 on Saturday, 29 April.