» V8s: Perkins to make full-time return

Jack Perkins will make his full-time return to the V8 Supercars Championship next year, signing on with Charlie Schwerkolt Racing, which has – as we speculated – opted not to renew the services of Alex Davison.

Perkins, the son of former Australian touring car legend and occasional F1 driver Larry Perkins, will have his first full-time top-level drive since 2007.

The 27-year-old was forced to suspend full-time driving duties after he was diagnosed with Type-1 Diabetes.

But Perkins has successfully managed his condition for a number of years and regularly competes in the second-tier Dunlop Series, as well as being one of the most sought-after endurance racing co-drivers each season.

“I am absolutely stoked to be back driving in the main series as it has been four years in the making so I can’t thank Charlie [Schwerkolt, team owner] enough for the opportunity,” Perkins said.

Perkins is going to drive the #18 JELD-WEN Racing Ford Falcon, which operates out of the Ford Performance Racing stable.

“Jack has been knocking on the door to get back into the series for a long time and his results this last year have been especially impressive in the context of all the high-quality drivers he was competing against,” Schwerkolt added.

“Jack is very hungry and he knows he needs to perform so I think what our team offers with the resources of FPR will be the right environment for him to flourish.”

The decision to appoint Perkins comes after a largely disappointing season for the #18 car, which netted a single podium at the hands of Alex Davison, who now finds himself without a drive.