A Kenworth T909 will be in the Supercars paddock this year. Let’s all pinch ourselves to make sure this is real

Mount Waverley-based Team 18 has raised its transporter game again, securing a Kenworth T909 prime mover to pull its race equipment to every round of the 2021 Repco Supercars Championship season.

This isn’t a bog standard T909 either. Powered by a 15-litre Cummins X15 engine with an Eaton manual transmission, Team 18’s T909 has a number of distinctive features including stainless tank trims, 6” straight-cut stacks, extra roof lights, a custom bull bar and a host of personalised accessories for team owner, Charlie Schwerkolt.

The news first surfaced on Instagram on Saturday morning, with the team confirming the news through a press release earlier today.

The upgrade to the T909 model is thanks to the team’s ongoing deal with Kenworth Australia, which saw the brand-new truck delivered to team owner, Charlie Schwerkolt, last Saturday.

"It was an extremely special day on Saturday getting the delivery of our brand-new Kenworth T909 in time to head to Bathurst,” said Charlie Schwerkolt. “It’s the ultimate truck! It’s the biggest truck you can get, the toughest-looking truck, it’s got heritage, style and class and it will be the envy of every team in the pit lane.

“In a race team image is everything. We take the presentation of our team very seriously as it reflects back on our drivers, our crew, our fans and our wider sponsor group.

“I was so proud to have the opportunity drive it off the production line at Kenworth’s manufacturing plant in Bayswater and take it to their dealership at the Hallam Truck Centre for the final touches.

“Recently we’ve seen more teams bring Kenworths to the track and we’ve always had one, but now we have the best.”

The Kenworth badge is nothing new to Team 18, with the two-car squad running a Kenworth T610 prime mover for the past few seasons. The left-hand-side of the team’s A-Trailer also displays prominent Kenworth signage.

“Kenworth is proud of our association with Team 18,” said Brad May, Director of Sales and Marketing - Kenworth/PACCAR Australia. “The professionalism and quality of the presentation of the team led by Charlie is something that we believe fits the values of our business extremely well.

“The cars look great in their 2021 livery and so it is only appropriate that they be transported by what is widely recognised as the ultimate drivers’ truck, the T909. 

“Together with the Team 18 trailer set, the combination will surely be a standout in the paddock this year.”

The prime mover isn’t the only change to the Team 18 transporter this year. The wrap on both trailers has been tweaked in the off-season, with IRWIN Tools, Fuchs and Bunnings Trade occupying prime real estate on the left-hand-side, while DeWalt, BP, Visa Global Logistics and Nulon are hard to miss on the right-hand-side.

The T909-led transporter will be leaving for Bathurst on Tuesday, ahead of a photo shoot at Mount Panorama Circuit on Wednesday.