» V8s: Super Black Racing confirms Pither

Chris Pither will continue with Super Black Racing at this weekend’s season finale, the Coates Hire Sydney 500, ahead of a full-time drive with the team in next year’s V8 Supercars Championship.

After earning his stripes in the feeder Dunlop Series championship and as a co-driver in the top flight’s Pirtek Enduro Cup rounds with Polestar Racing GRM, the New Zealander joined Super Black Racing at the preceding round, the Phillip Island SuperSprint, as an audition to replace current driver Andre Heimgartner.

The 28-year-old had a low-key outing for the one-car team, claiming a pair of 24th-placed finishes in Saturday’s Sprint Races before improving to 19th in Sunday’s Feature Race.

Pither joined SBR at Phillip Island

Nonetheless, his performance was enough to earn him a repeat call-up at Sydney Olympic Park ahead of a full-time drive in 2016, according to team owner Tony Lentino.

“He did a great job at Phillip Island,” Lentino said.

“He’s got a good knowledge of cars and setup and worked really well with the team. We’re excited to have him on board for next year and see how he develops as the year goes on.

“He has a wealth of experience so we’re excited to see where it goes. We have high hopes.”

“Being asked to drive the car at Phillip Island and work with Super Black was such a great opportunity and one that I thoroughly enjoyed,” Pither added.

“I’m really excited to have the chance to work with them and hopefully we can get some good results. It’s great to step up from the Dunlop Series into the main game but the level of competition is completely different.

“I am looking forward to working hard and doing the best that I can for the team.”

Pither’s appointment means that just three seats remain unconfirmed for the 2016 season.

2016 V8 Supercars Championship – Provisional Driver Line-ups
#	Team / Entry	Driver	Notes
2.	Red Bull Racing Australia	Garth Tander
3.	Lucas Dumbrell Motorsport	Tim Blanchard^
4.	Erebus Motorsport V8	Ashley Walsh
5.	Prodrive Racing Australia	Mark Winterbottom
6.	Prodrive Racing Australia	Chaz Mostert
7.	Nissan Motorsport	Todd Kelly
8.	Brad Jones Racing	Jason Bright
9.	Erebus Motorsport V8	David Reynolds	Moving from Rod Nash Racing
12.	DJR Team Penske	Fabian Coulthard	Moving from Brad Jones Racing
14.	Brad Jones Racing	Tim Slade	Moving from Walkinshaw Racing
15.	Nissan Motorsport	Rick Kelly
17.	DJR Team Penske	Scott Pye
18.	Charlie Schwerkolt Racing	Lee Holdsworth
21.	Brad Jones Racing	TBA
22.	Holden Racing Team	James Courtney
23.	Nissan Motorsport	Michael Caruso
33.	Volvo Polestar Racing	Scott McLaughlin
34.	Volvo Polestar Racing	James Moffat	Moving from Nissan Motorsport
55.	Rod Nash Racing	Cameron Waters*	Promoted from Dunlop Series
88.	Triple Eight Race Engineering	Jamie Whincup
97.	Triple Eight Race Engineering	Shane van Gisbergen	Moving from TEKNO Autosports
99.	Nissan Motorsport	Dale Wood	Moving from Brad Jones Racing
111.	Super Black Racing	Chris Pither	Promoted from Dunlop Series
222.	Lucas Dumbrell Motorsport	Nick Percat
888.	Triple Eight Race Engineering	Craig Lowndes
TBA.	TEKNO Autosports	Will Davison	Moving from Erebus Motorsport