POLL: Rick Kelly back in a Supercar

Would you like to see Rick Kelly, pictured here after a win at Winton in 2018, make a competitive Supercars comeback?

Rick Kelly broke a drought of almost two years when he drove a Supercar in recent days, but would you like to see a more lasting return to the category?

That is the question we put to you in this week’s Pirtek Poll, after the two-time Great Race winner’s outing at Winton in a Nissan Altima belonging to brother Todd.

Kelly last raced in October 2020 when the Bathurst 1000 was the finale of that heavily COVID-affected season, and announced his retirement a week later.

He drove a Supercar again in a ride day before the start of the 2021 campaign, but had been out of the saddle from then until his latest running, which left him with “a smile from ear to ear.”

Would you like to see Kelly also race again in the Repco Supercars Championship?

Comebacks are in vogue is recent Bathurst 1000s are any guide.

In 2021, ‘The Enforcer & The Kid’ drove the Supercheap Auto-backed Triple Eight Race Engineering wildcard entry, with a then-57-year-old Russell Ingall taking a break from retirement to partner Broc Feeney in his rookie Great Race appearance.

Two months ago, Riche Stanaway and Greg Murphy piloted an extra Erebus Motorsport entry to 11th position at the end of 161 laps around Mount Panorama.

Both campaigns generated significant interest, with several elements at play in the latter.

Stanaway is something of an enigma so far as Supercars is concerned, and a highly controversial figure in his two seasons as a full-timer; Murphy is a four-time Bathurst 1000 winner who had not raced in the category for eight years; the duo had already missed out once due to COVID restrictions; major sponsor Peter Adderton is an especially outspoken figure; and, on top of all of that, Erebus then faced the jeopardy caused by the Pukekohe crash which nearly wrote off a car just weeks out from the trip to The Mountain.

The Kelly story does not have those ingredients, but he is a two-time Great Race winner, and the 2006 Supercars champion, a title which was also controversial given the circumstances in which it was clinched.

He is still not quite 40 years old, and arguably walked away from the sport before his time was really up, so far as driving performance was concerned.

Could he still have something to give from the driver’s seat? There is only one way to find out, but it would be bold to rule it out with a high level of confidence.

All of that said, life moves on, and so does sport.

A seat which Kelly occupies is potentially one less seat available for a young driver (although, as the Triple Eight case shows, it could also be a vehicle for a debutant).

On the other hand, the presence of winners create standards for the newcomers to meet, and storylines for fans to follow.

Of course, all of it may be a moot point for any number of practical reasons.

Still, we put the question to you: Would you like to see the 2003 and 2004 Bathurst 1000 winner, and 2006 champion, make a competitive comeback, either full-time or in the enduros? Cast your vote below in this week’s Pirtek Poll.

Keyword: POLL: Rick Kelly back in a Supercar

CAR'S NEWS RELATED

We bid the iconic Audi R8 adieu with a proper track experience

We bid the iconic Audi R8 adieu with a proper track experience Audi Driving Experience Center, Neuburg an der Donau, Germany – I would say that it has been a good ride for Audi’s iconic R8. The R8, like the Ur-Quattro did plenty to elevate the brand. The Quattro ...

View more: We bid the iconic Audi R8 adieu with a proper track experience

Lamborghini Huracan Sterrato 2023 review: Let's off-road... in a £230,000 supercar

You'd have thought Lambo would fit bull bars

View more: Lamborghini Huracan Sterrato 2023 review: Let's off-road... in a £230,000 supercar

Ferrari Unveils Limited-Run 499P Modificata Track-Only Supercar

Ferrari has introduced a limited-run, track-only supercar, the 499P Modificata. This high-performance machine is based on the race-winning Ferrari 499 that claimed victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans four months ago, but it offers even more power and features for racers. Powertrain The 499P Modificata is powered ...

View more: Ferrari Unveils Limited-Run 499P Modificata Track-Only Supercar

Lamborghini Waiting To See If Synthetic Fuel Has A Future Before Retiring ICE Supercars

The company boss argues the combustion engine could survive if e-fuel production ramps up.

View more: Lamborghini Waiting To See If Synthetic Fuel Has A Future Before Retiring ICE Supercars

Intense Supercar title fight continues on Sunshine Coast

Photos: EDGE Photographics The Repco Supercars Championship will 2023 season is well and truly heating up, with this weekend’s highly anticipated Boost Mobile Gold Coast 500. Teams will return to the grid for the first time since Shane van Gisbergen and Richie Stanaway etched their names in the history ...

View more: Intense Supercar title fight continues on Sunshine Coast

Ferrari SP-8 Is A Roofless One-Off Supercar With F40-Inspired Wheels

The F8 Spider has lost its roof and has gained a wide 3D-printed aluminum grille.

View more: Ferrari SP-8 Is A Roofless One-Off Supercar With F40-Inspired Wheels

New Ferrari V12 Supercar Looks Sleek With Production Body Despite Camo

The 812 Superfast replacement no longer looks like a Frankenstein Roma.

View more: New Ferrari V12 Supercar Looks Sleek With Production Body Despite Camo

What Mystery Supercar Will McLaren Show Next Month?

The debut will be at the Velocity Invitational from November 10 through 12 at Sonoma Raceway in California.

View more: What Mystery Supercar Will McLaren Show Next Month?

Zeppelin McLaren Edition Speaker Brings Supercar Experience To Your Living Room

Place Bids On Supercar Collection With Ferrari 512 TR Spider, 46-Mile Jag XJ220

McLaren Says ‘Real’ Electric Supercars Are Still Years Away

GAC Aion begins deliveries of tri-motor Hyper SSR supercar that goes 0-100 km/h in 1.9 seconds

McLaren Boss: “Real Supercars” With Electric Power Won’t Arrive Until 2030

Here are seven supercars that the FL5 Honda Civic Type R beats at the Nürburgring

Toyota Shows Unseen MX-1, MX-2 Mid-Engine Supercars

Top Coolest Supercars

Supercars celebrate 60 years of Bathurst 1000

Let Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale Designer Take You On Tour Of New Supercar

London’s Supercar Theft Epidemic Raises Alarms In The Capital

See Lamborghini Factory Driver Test Revuelto V12 Supercar On Track

OTHER CAR NEWS

; Top List in the World https://www.pinterest.com/newstopcar/pins/
Top Best Sushi Restaurants in SeoulTop Best Caribbean HoneymoonsTop Most Beautiful Islands in PeruTop Best Outdoor Grill BrandsTop Best Global Seafood RestaurantsTop Foods to Boost Your Immune SystemTop Best Foods to Fight HemorrhoidsTop Foods That Pack More Potassium Than a BananaTop Best Healthy Foods to Gain Weight FastTop Best Cosmetic Brands in the U.STop Best Destinations for Food Lovers in EuropeTop Best Foods High in Vitamin ATop Best Foods to Lower Your Blood SugarTop Best Things to Do in LouisianaTop Best Cities to Visit in New YorkTop Best Makeup Addresses In PennsylvaniaTop Reasons to Visit NorwayTop Most Beautiful Islands In The WorldTop Best Law Universities in the WorldTop Richest Sportsmen In The WorldTop Biggest Aquariums In The WorldTop Best Peruvian Restaurants In MiamiTop Best Road Trips From MiamiTop Best Places to Visit in MarylandTop Best Places to Visit in North CarolinaTop Best Electric Cars For KidsTop Best Swedish Brands in The USTop Best Skincare Brands in AmericaTop Best American Lipstick BrandsTop Michelin-starred Restaurants in MiamiTop Best Secluded Getaways From MiamiTop Best Things To Do On A Rainy Day In MiamiTop Most Instagrammable Places In MiamiTop Interesting Facts about FlorenceTop Facts About The First Roman Emperor - AugustusTop Best Japanese FoodsTop Most Beautiful Historical Sites in IsraelTop Best Places To Visit In Holy SeeTop Best Hawaiian IslandsTop Reasons to Visit PortugalTop Best Hotels In L.A. With Free Wi-FiTop Best Scenic Drives in MiamiTop Best Vegan Restaurants in BerlinTop Most Interesting Attractions In WalesTop Health Benefits of a Vegan DietTop Best Thai Restaurant in Las VegasTop Most Beautiful Forests in SwitzerlandTop Best Global Universities in GermanyTop Most Beautiful Lakes in GuyanaTop Best Things To Do in IdahoTop Things to Know Before Traveling to North MacedoniaTop Best German Sunglasses BrandsTop Highest Mountains In FranceTop Biggest Hydroelectric Plants in AmericaTop Best Spa Hotels in NYCTop The World's Scariest BridgeTop Largest Hotels In AmericaTop Most Famous Festivals in JordanTop Best European Restaurants in MunichTop Best Japanese Hiking Boot BrandsTop Best Universities in PolandTop Best Tips for Surfing the Web Safely and AnonymouslyTop Most Valuable Football Clubs in EuropeTop Highest Mountains In ColombiaTop Real-Life Characters of Texas RisingTop Best Beaches in GuatelamaTop Things About DR Congo You Should KnowTop Best Korean Reality & Variety ShowsTop Best RockstarsTop Most Beautiful Waterfalls in GermanyTop Best Fountain Pen Ink BrandsTop Best European Restaurants in ChicagoTop Best Fighter Jets in the WorldTop Best Three-Wheel MotorcyclesTop Most Beautiful Lakes in ManitobaTop Best Dive Sites in VenezuelaTop Best Websites For Art StudentsTop Best Japanese Instant Noodle BrandsTop Best Comedy Manhwa (Webtoons)Top Best Japanese Sunglasses BrandsTop Most Expensive Air Jordan SneakersTop Health Benefits of CucumberTop Famous Universities in SwedenTop Most Popular Films Starring Jo Jung-sukTop Interesting Facts about CougarsTop Best Hospitals for Hip Replacement in the USATop Most Expensive DefendersTop Health Benefits of GooseberriesTop Health Benefits of ParsnipsTop Best Foods and Drinks in LondonTop Health Benefits of Rosehip TeaTop Best Air Fryers for Low-fat CookingTop Most Asked Teacher Interview Questions with AnswersTop Best Shopping Malls in ZurichTop The Most Beautiful Botanical Gardens In L.A.Top Best Mexican Restaurants in Miami for Carb-loading rightTop Best Energy Companies in GermanyTop Best Garage HeatersTop Largest Banks in IrelandTop Leading Provider - Audit and Assurance In The USTop Best Jewelry Brands in IndiaTop Prettiest Streets in the UKTop Best Lakes to Visit in TunisiaTop Highest Mountains in Israel