Will Davison and Steve Johnson will team up for Jim Beam Racing in the next two events of the V8 Supercar series.
The duo will drive the No.18 Falcon, while Steve Owen and Warren Luff will combine as Jim Beam Racing's second pairing in the No.17 car.
Jim Beam Racing's Sporting Director Adrian Burgess believes the combinations put in place for the Phillip Island and Bathurst V8 Supercar events will lead to strong results.
"It's been a tough one, but we believe we have the right combination in the right cars in order to give the team the best chance of success," Burgess said.
"We just feel that our best chance for the best possible result was for Will and Steve to drive the No.18 car."
The decision to use Jim Beam Racing's top pairing in the No.18 car shows there is little room for sentiment in V8 Supercars these days.
The No.17 Falcon has been made famous by Dick Johnson and it will be the first time in 30 years that the Johnson name will not be associated with the car.
While the decision saddened Dick Johnson somewhat, the five-time Australian Touring Car Champion said the race pairings were in the best interests of the team.
"Unfortunately the sport has moved on from sentimental things like that and we have seen some other long standing V8 Supercar partnerships with great sentimental value ended this year as well," he said.
"We need to focus on what's best for Jim Beam Racing on the results side on things, and we have made decisions based on the best interests of the team."
The L&H 500 at Phillip Island commences next week, while the Super Cheap Auto Bathurst 1000 is next month and Dick Johnson is confident that his team will perform well.
"Make no mistake, we race to win and that's what we aim to do at the upcoming endurance events, Steve and Will were brilliant at Bathurst last year and I have some great memories at the mountain; with a bit of luck this year will be just as memorable," he said.
The duo will drive the No.18 Falcon, while Steve Owen and Warren Luff will combine as Jim Beam Racing's second pairing in the No.17 car.
Jim Beam Racing's Sporting Director Adrian Burgess believes the combinations put in place for the Phillip Island and Bathurst V8 Supercar events will lead to strong results.
"It's been a tough one, but we believe we have the right combination in the right cars in order to give the team the best chance of success," Burgess said.
"We just feel that our best chance for the best possible result was for Will and Steve to drive the No.18 car."
The decision to use Jim Beam Racing's top pairing in the No.18 car shows there is little room for sentiment in V8 Supercars these days.
The No.17 Falcon has been made famous by Dick Johnson and it will be the first time in 30 years that the Johnson name will not be associated with the car.
While the decision saddened Dick Johnson somewhat, the five-time Australian Touring Car Champion said the race pairings were in the best interests of the team.
"Unfortunately the sport has moved on from sentimental things like that and we have seen some other long standing V8 Supercar partnerships with great sentimental value ended this year as well," he said.
"We need to focus on what's best for Jim Beam Racing on the results side on things, and we have made decisions based on the best interests of the team."
The L&H 500 at Phillip Island commences next week, while the Super Cheap Auto Bathurst 1000 is next month and Dick Johnson is confident that his team will perform well.
"Make no mistake, we race to win and that's what we aim to do at the upcoming endurance events, Steve and Will were brilliant at Bathurst last year and I have some great memories at the mountain; with a bit of luck this year will be just as memorable," he said.
