David Reynolds is set to etch his name into Supercars history this weekend as he reaches the monumental milestone of 500 races, an achievement reserved for only the elite few in Australian motorsport. Racing in Sunday’s 200km Race 10 at Taupo, Reynolds will become just the 13th driver ever to surpass the 500-race barrier in the top tier of the sport, cementing his legacy among legends.
Reynolds’ journey began back in 2007 with his debut at the Sandown 500, but it wasn’t until 2009 that he embarked on his first full-time season in the fiercely competitive Great Race. Over the years, Reynolds has carved out a reputation as one of the sport’s most enduring and charismatic figures. His early career saw him racing for Walkinshaw and Kelly Racing, but it was in 2012 when he secured a seat with the Rod Nash entry at Ford Performance Racing that his star truly began to rise. That year, he came agonizingly close to winning the iconic Bathurst 1000 on its 50th anniversary, a near miss that hinted at the greatness to come.
Reynolds’ career highlights include multiple race wins, with standout seasons in 2013 and 2015, the latter seeing him finish an impressive third in the championship. His move to Erebus Motorsport proved fruitful when he claimed a dramatic rain-soaked victory in the 2017 Bathurst 1000, a race that remains one of the most thrilling in recent memory. The following year, Reynolds dazzled fans again with three wins and a fierce title challenge, nearly achieving back-to-back Bathurst glory.
In 2021, Reynolds returned to Kelly Racing just as it transformed into the Grove Racing outfit. This move reinvigorated his career, allowing him to rediscover his winning form in the new Gen3 era of Supercars. For the past three seasons, Team 18 has become Reynolds’ sanctuary, where he’s consistently delivered top-10 finishes and maintained his status as a formidable competitor on the grid.
Reflecting on his incredible milestone, Reynolds admitted the significance of 500 races is difficult to fully grasp. “I guess it just shows I’ve been around a long time, I’m experienced, and I’ve been good enough at what I do to last this long,” he said. Reynolds also expressed deep gratitude for the support that has fueled his longevity in the sport, recalling how making it to Supercars once seemed like an impossible dream. Now, after half a thousand races, his ambitions have only grown. “Once I got here, the goal became to win a championship, and I haven’t done that yet, so I’m still going.”
Despite the fanfare, Reynolds remains grounded about the milestone. “At the end of the day though, it’s just another weekend. Whether it’s 500 or 5,000 races, you turn up, do your job, drive the car as fast as it can go, make no mistakes and enjoy it, because you don’t know how long it’s going to last.”
David Reynolds’ entry into the exclusive 500-race club is not just a testament to his skill and perseverance but also a celebration of a career defined by grit, passion, and an unrelenting pursuit of greatness. As he takes to the track in Taupo, the Supercars world watches eagerly, knowing that a true legend is adding yet another unforgettable chapter to his story.
