Now that the main players have made their moves, Supercars' first full-time female racer Simona de Silvestro "is the key to the rest of the driver changes for next year," according to Mark Fogarty of the SYDNEY MORNING HERALD. De Silvestro, from Switzerland, has guaranteed multimillion-dollar backing for three years "to secure her place on the grid." She becomes the "most valuable unsigned driver following confirmation that established star James Courtney will stay with Walkinshaw Racing for another three years." She is among at least three newcomers "vying for up to seven potential vacancies, although her big backing and pedigree as an accomplished international open-wheel driver means she has her pick." De Silvestro is a "definite starter because her deal is underwritten by Supercars," which has brokered sponsorship from retailer Harvey Norman reputedly worth A$2M ($1.5M) a year over three seasons. Supercars is also understood to be "paying her annual salary, making her combined funding package attractive to leading teams in addition to her unique appeal as a woman with the potential to be competitive in male-dominated V8 racing." The fact that de Silvestro and Renee Gracie have switched from Ford to Nissan for the Oct. 9 Bathurst1000 "strengthens the widespread belief that de Silvestro will join the factory-backed Nissan team for the start of her full-time Supercars campaign next year" (SMH, 9/24).