Garth Tander's full-time career is over. Why?

So, Garth Tander’s been pushed into retirement.

Yes, you read that correct. Garth Tander’s full-time Supercars career is over. I was nearly correct with my prediction that, after Craig Lowndes announced his retirement that Garth Tander would be next (Though that as scuttled by Blanchard).

And all evidence points to Tander being pushed by Garry Rodgers, who wanted to “future proof” his team, by having 2 2^nd-year drivers in his team, Richie Stanaway and James Golding.

Now, it should be made abundantly clear that Garth Tander was contracted through to the end of 2019. Was there a clause in the contract, like with Stanaway? It seems so. Especially since Stanaway has brought a sponsor with him, Boost Mobile.

As I have hinted earlier, the main reason why Tander's out and Stanaway's in is sponsorship. With Wilson Security out, Garth Tander would have needed another sponsor, while Stanaway had one.

Now despite this, I disagree with GRM’s decision. I understand where they’re coming from, but Tander should have been given the kind of send-off that Craig Lowndes got last year, not treated like this.

Will Garth continue as a co-driver? Likely. Garth Tander/Shane Van Gisbergen would be a killer Co-Driver/Main Gamer Drive combo on par with Craig Lowndes/Jamie Whincup that was announced recently.

To be honest, this decision could, and there’s a good chance it will, come back to bite GRM, as Stanaway has had a very rough first season, as I’ve documented multiple times. And the move to GRM, as well as replacing Garth Tander, means Stanaway is going to have to show some of the brilliance he showed in Super 2 to really fill Tander’s massive shoes.

So, in summary, Tander out with his full-time career done, Stanaway in, and he has BIG shoes to fill. Stanaway has a sponsor, but Tander should have been given a similar send-off to what Lowndes got in 2017.