DRIVERS TO WATCH IN 2017 SUPERCARS SEASON
SHANE VAN GISBERGEN (Holden)
The hunter is now the hunted for van Gisbergen after becoming the first New Zealand driver in 25 years - and only third overall - to claim the Australian touring car crown last year.
The big Kiwi's easy going nature may be tested as he tries to defend his title sharing the same Red Bull Racing garage as main threat, Jamie Whincup.
JAMIE WHINCUP (Holden)
The record six-time series champion will be more motivated than ever to claim his first Supercars title since 2014 after van Gisbergen became RBR's top dog.
At 34, Whincup says he is still ready to show who is the No.1 after falling just 200 points short of van Gisbergen in last year's championship standings.
SCOTT MCLAUGHLIN (Ford)
The pressure will be on the ex-Volvo young gun from the outset after linking with Ford powerhouse DJR Team Penske, backed by US motorsport great Roger Penske.
The hard-marking Penske will demand results in the third year of his collaboration with Dick Johnson Racing - especially after poaching the 23-year-old McLaughlin, who achieved a career-high third in the 2016 championship.
GARTH TANDER (Holden)
At 39, three-time Bathurst 1000 champion Tander still has plenty to prove.
Tander will be intent on showing at new outfit Garry Rogers Motorsport he is still a force after his nine-year stint with factory-backed Holden Racing Team came to an unceremonious end.
He was told he would be dumped in 2017 by HRT - rebranded this year as HSV Racing Team with James Courtney and new teammate Scott Pye - barely a week after claiming the Sandown 500.
ALEX RULLO (Holden)
He's not allowed behind the wheel by himself on an Australian road.
But the 16-year-old Perth year 12 student will still become the youngest fulltime driver in Australian touring car racing's 58-year history in 2017.
After one full season in the second-tier Dunlop Series, Rullo was granted a provisional Superlicence for the 2017 Supercars until he turns 17 in June.
Officials will review Rullo's Supercars racing status after each round.
SIMONA DE SILVESTRO (Nissan)
Dubbed the "Iron Maiden", de Silvestro will become the first full-time female Supercars driver in 2017.
The ex-Formula One test driver and IndyCar podium winner starts a three-year Nissan deal after two Bathurst 1000 wildcard entries, finishing a respectable 14th in 2016.
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