Tim Blanchard (born 30 June 1987) is an Australian racing driver. Blanchard has raced in several other motor racing series, including the

British Formula Ford Championship The British Formula Ford Championship was an entry level single seater motor racing category, designed to give racing drivers their first step into car racing after karting. Drivers from around the world were attracted to the United Kingdom to ...

, and was the winner of the

2007 Australian Formula Ford Championship The 2007 Australian Formula Ford Championship was a CAMS sanctioned motor racing title for drivers of Formula Ford racing cars.Formula Ford Formula Ford, also known as F1600 and Formula F, is an entry-level class of single seater, open-wheel formula racing. The various championships held across the world form an important step for many prospective Formula One drivers. Formula For ...

in 2005, participating in both the Australian and Victoria State Championships in his first season. Tim finished third in the Victorian Series, however only entering three races in the Australian Championship as he gathered much-needed experience in the open wheeler class. He turned his concentration fully onto the Australian Championship in 2006, and under the guidance of

Sonic Motor Racing Services Sonic Motor Racing Services is an Australian racing team that is competes in the Porsche Carrera Cup Australia Championship, Porsche Sprint Challenge, the Australian Formula Ford Championship, and the Victorian Formula Ford Championship. The ...

, finished the season with 186 points and five podiums, resulting in a fifth place in the championship. 2007 saw Blanchard have his biggest success to date when he took out the

Australian Formula Ford Championship The Australian Formula Ford Championship is an Australian motor racing competition for drivers of Formula Ford racing cars, held annually since 1970. From 1970 until 1992 it was a national series and from 1993 until 2013 the series was sanctione ...

with seven wins and sixteen podiums from the twenty-four race series.

UK

After winning the 2007

, Tim set his sights on conquering the

, a series with a rich history, and a proving ground for many of the biggest names in motorsport. Blanchard signed with Jamun Racing Services, one of the most successful teams in British Formula Ford, and together with his teammate

Wayne Boyd Wayne Boyd (born 25 October 1990) is a British racing driver from County Antrim, Northern Ireland. Boyd won the British Formula Ford Championship in 2008 with Jamun Racing. He won 13 out of 25 championship races. Sat on the pole for 15 race ...

, set about dominating the championship. With 3 race wins, 16 podiums & 5 poles, Blanchard finished the 2008 British Formula Ford Championship in 2nd place, 50 points behind his teammate Wayne Boyd. This was another breakout year for Blanchard, culminating in a 3rd-place finish at the season-ending

Formula Ford Festival The Formula Ford Festival is an annual meeting of Ford-powered single-seat racing cars which is held at the end of the British racing season, at the Brands Hatch motor racing circuit in the county of Kent, in Southern England. The events are hel ...

. His mechanic for the season was

Scott Malvern Scott Aaron Malvern (born 23 February 1989) is a British racing driver, currently competing in the British GT Championship who is best known for winning the 2011 British Formula Ford Championship, the 2012 Formula Renault BARC championship and ...

who went on to be a successful racing driver in his own right winning the British Formula Ford Championship and Formula Ford Festival with Jamun in 2011. Due to some funding shortfalls following the Global Financial Crisis, Blanchard was unable to secure a drive for the 2009 season. Tim instead concentrated his efforts on completing his accounting degree at Swinburne University whilst also assisting a number of teams in both V8s and Formula Ford throughout the season.

Supercars

Development Series

In 2010 Blanchard reunited with

for the 2010 Fujitsu V8 Supercar Series. Blanchard drove the ex-Triple Eight Falcon BF that James Moffat drove in the 2009 Fujitsu V8 Series. Following a season in the wilderness, Blanchard took no time to settle, finishing 5th in both races at the 2010 Clipsal 500. His standout performance came in Round 4 at the 2010 Sucrogen Townsville 400, winning the round with two podiums including his first race win. Consistency was the key throughout the season, as Blanchard finished 2nd in the 2010 Fujitsu V8 Supercar Series. 2011 saw Blanchard sign with MW Motorsport to team up with the experienced David Russell in the Team Jayco BF Falcons. Blanchard drove the ex-FPR Falcon BF that Tony Bates drove in the 2010 Fujitsu V8 Supercar Series. After a successful year with

, Blanchard started off the season at MW Motorsport with his best result for the year, finishing 2nd in the opening round of the

2011 Fujitsu V8 Supercar Series The 2011 Fujitsu V8 Supercars Series was the twelfth running of the V8 Supercar Development series, an Australian touring car racing series for V8 Supercars. It acted as the principal support category at seven 2011 International V8 Supercars Ch ...

at the 2011 Clipsal 500. Another standout result was his 2nd Fujitsu V8 Supercar Series career race win at the

2011 Sucrogen Townsville 400 The 2011 Sucrogen Townsville 400 was a motor race for the Australian sedan-based V8 Supercars racing cars. It was the seventh event of the 2011 International V8 Supercars Championship. It was held on the weekend of July 8 to 10 at the Townsville ...

. Blanchard finished every round of the season in the top 10, culminating in a 5th-place finish in the

. 2012 saw Blanchard remain in the Dunlop V8 Supercar Series with MW Motorsport. He piloted the ex-FPR Falcon FG that Mark Winterbottom drove in the

2011 V8 Supercars Championship The 2011 International V8 Supercar Championship (often simplified to the 2011 V8 Supercars Championship) was an FIA sanctioned international motor racing series for V8 Supercars. It was the thirteenth V8 Supercar Championship Series and the fif ...

. Following an incident-packed first round at the

2012 Clipsal 500 The 2012 Clipsal 500 was a motor race for the Australian sedan-based V8 Supercars. It was the first event of the 2012 International V8 Supercars Championship, and the fourteenth running of the Clipsal 500. It was held on the weekend of 1–4 M ...

, Blanchard recorded his best finish of the year, a 5th at the 2012 Trading Post Perth Challenge. Consistent strong results followed, but Blanchard's development series program came to a premature end as main series commitments with

Kelly Racing Kelly Grove Racing (formerly known as Kelly Racing and Nissan Motorsport) was an Australian motor racing team which competes in the Supercars Championship. The team made its debut in 2009 V8 Supercar Championship Series, 2009, and raced Holden ...

, substituting for the injured Todd Kelly, meant he could not complete the season with MW Motorsport.

Supercars Championship

Blanchard's first experience in the main series came when he picked up an endurance co-driving role with

Paul Morris Motorsport Paul Morris Motorsport, also known as its business name of Nemo Racing, is an Australian motor racing team that competed in V8 Supercars between 2000 and 2012. The team also won the 1997 AMP Bathurst 1000 and four Australian Super Touring Cha ...

, partnering

Greg Murphy Gregory Murphy (born 23 August 1972) is a New Zealand professional racing driver, best known as a four-time winner of the Bathurst 1000. Greg Murphy joined Jeremy Clarkson and James May presenting Top Gear Live, when it had its first intern ...

in the 2010 L&H 500, where they finished 13th. In 2011 Blanchard signed with

for the two endurance events in the

, the 2011 L&H 500 and the

2011 Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000 The 2011 Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000 was an Australian touring car motor race for V8 Supercars. The race was on Sunday, 9 October 2011 at the Mount Panorama Circuit just outside Bathurst, New South Wales, Australia and was Race 20 of the 20 ...

. Blanchard raced alongside David Reynolds in the teams No. 16 Stratco Commodore, making his

Bathurst 1000 The Bathurst 1000 (formally known as the Repco Bathurst 1000) is a touring car race held annually on the Mount Panorama Circuit in Bathurst, New South Wales, Australia. It is currently run as part of the Supercars Championship, the most rece ...

debut where mechanical issues saw them finish 19th following a standout 6th place at the 2011 L&H 500. 2012 saw Blanchard retained by

for the two endurance events in the

2012 V8 Supercars Championship The 2012 International V8 Supercar Championship (often simplified to the 2012 V8 Supercars Championship) was an FIA sanctioned international motor racing series for V8 Supercars. It was the fourteenth running of the V8 Supercar Championship Seri ...

, the 2012 Dick Smith Sandown 500 and the

2012 Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000 The 2012 Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000 was an Australian Touring car racing, touring car motor race for V8 Supercars, the twenty-first race of the 2012 International V8 Supercars Championship. It was held on Sunday, 7 October 2012 at the Mount ...

. Blanchard partnered Todd Kelly in the teams No. 7 Jack Daniels Commodore, finishing credible 18th at both events. Following the

, Blanchard was called up by

to substitute for an injured Todd Kelly for the remaining four rounds of the

. In 2013 Blanchard was given a full-time drive with

Dick Johnson Racing Dick Johnson Racing (formerly DJR Team Penske), is Australia's oldest motor racing team competing in the Supercars Championship. The team currently fields the #11 and #17 Ford Mustang GTs for Anton de Pasquale and Will Davison respectivel ...

, Driving the No. 17 Entry. In 2014 Blanchard became an endurance cup driver, joining Lucas Dumbrell Motorsport. Holden Commodore (VF) of Tim Blanchard 2015

Holden Commodore (VF) of Tim Blanchard 2015

In 2015 Blanchard continued with LDM but was promoted to a full-time drive in the team's No. 3 Commodore. In 2016 Blanchard moved to

Britek Motorsport Britek Motorsport was an Australian Supercars motor racing team owned by Bathurst 1000 winning driver Jason Bright. Established in 2005, the team originally ran as an independent team, however since 2010, its only remaining asset has been one Ra ...

, a satellite team of

Brad Jones Racing Brad Jones Racing is an Australian motor racing team owned by Brad Jones based in Albury. The team competes in the Supercars Championship and the Super2 Series. Recently they have also returned to Australian Formula Ford where Brad and Kim be ...

. In 2017 the Britek REC was replaced by Blanchard's own, Blanchard Racing Team, purchased from Super Black Racing.

Mike Kable Young Gun Award

Following the 2010 Fujitsu V8 Supercar Series, Blanchard collected the coveted Mike Kable Young Gun Award. for best rookie driver following a successful season which saw the talented Melburnian finish second in the Fujitsu V8 Supercar Series.

Motor racing record

Super2 Series results

( key) (Round results only), (2021 Race results only)

Supercars Championship results

Complete Bathurst 1000 results

References

External links

Tim Blanchard Official WebsiteTim Blanchard V8 Supercars Official ProfileTim Blanchard Driver DataBase profileTim Blanchard Racing Reference profile
{{DEFAULTSORT:Blanchard, Tim 1987 births Formula Ford drivers Living people Racing drivers from Melbourne Supercars Championship drivers Australian Endurance Championship drivers Kelly Racing drivers Dick Johnson Racing drivers