Golding secures full-time GRM drive

James Golding has secured a full-time drive in the 2018 V8 Supercars championship.

Garry Rogers Motorsport has confirmed the 21-year-old will step into the seat held by James Moffat for the past two seasons.

From Warragul, Golding’s progression to a full-time drive follows spending 201516 in the Super 2 series before running in V8 Supercars at wildcard and endurance events.

Golding is one of several youngsters to step up at a team renowned for giving young drivers their first opportunity.

Golding told Supercars media that securing a fulltime drive was a dream come true.

“I’ve been involved in GRM and Supercars for a bit over five years now and to finally get a seat is just unreal.

“As a young kid it was always my dream and I’ve been so close, it’s unbelievable to finally get that chance.

“I can’t wait to get in and see how I go.”

Golding, who also works as a mechanic with the team, said he was better equipped to step up to V8 Supercars following the latest round of wildcard and endurance events.

“I think now is the time for me to move up,” he said.

“If I didn’t move up now I think it’d be a bit harder because I’m the right age for it.”

Golding said he is honoured to join the star-studded list of those to graduate to the main stage with GRM, but admitted the hard work is just beginning.

“If it wasn’t for him I wouldn’t be anywhere near where I am now,” he said of GRM team owner Garry Rogers.

“It’s unbelievable to look at those other drivers that have come through with GRM and now be one of them, but there’s a lot of work ahead.

“The competition in the main series is extremely high and there’s going to be a lot that I have to learn that I haven’t experienced yet, including new tracks.

“There will be a bit to get my head around but I’m really looking forward to the challenge.

“Hopefully I can have some solid results to get my confidence up early in the season.”

Rogers said he takes great pride in helping young people work their way through the ranks in motorsport.

“I will be extremely proud to see Bieber race in Adelaide in just over three months time,” he said.

“I get an enormous amount of satisfaction watching and helping young people achieve something and that doesn’t just mean race drivers.

“With regards to Bieber, I have been watching him since his early teens in go-karts and as things progressed I offered him an apprenticeship a little over four years ago as a mechanic.

“Bieber has shown a great aptitude to the mechanical side of a race car and his day to day work ethic certainly illustrates to me that he is a very disciplined person.

“I know that Bieber has the skills and we will provide him with the people and the equipment to not only have the potential to lead that group but challenge the mainstays of Supercars.”