Supercars star David Reynolds says the challenges of 2020 on and off track led to his decision to quit Erebus Motorsport one year into a mammoth 10-year contract.

The Bathurst-winning driver’s decision to walk away was announced on Wednesday, with Erebus confirming his five-season stint at the team was over.

Despite rumours of friction with outspoken team chief executive Barry Ryan, Reynolds says the decision to part ways was mutual.

He says at he’s peace with leaving despite his affinity to the team.

“It’s very, very said because I’ve poured my heart and soul into that team,” Reynolds said on the latest edition of the Below the Bonnet podcast.

“To end one year into a 10-year deal, it’s not a very good feeling. But I think it’s the best for myself and the best for them as well.

“And I can’t say anything bad about them. I had such a great time with them.”

In his first season after signing the “lifetime” contract, Reynolds failed to win a single race and finished 12th on the championship standings in a year heavily disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The 35-year-old said the demands of a year spent mostly on the road due to Victoria’s lockdown had taken its toll and brought a change of focus.

“It was a very strange year. I don’t really want to go into what happened, because … it’s all in the past,” he said.

“I’m trying to move on with my life and start again.

“Every year you either win or you learn. And we didn’t win a lot this year, but we learnt a lot.

“And I learnt a lot about myself and how to get the most out of myself.”

As to what the future holds, Reynolds said he has no drive lined up yet for 2021 but was eager to explore his options.

“Now I’m free, I’m allowed to go into the marketplace and start talking to other teams and finding out what else is there.”