For the first time since Walkinshaw Andretti United (WAU) was founded it will become a factory-supported team when it races the Ford Performance Mustang GT in the Supercars championship from 2023.
Ford’s support of Walkinshaw Andretti United will begin alongside the debut of the next generation ‘Gen3’ Supercar, from the start of the 2023 Supercars Championship.
Walkinshaw Andretti United will field two Ford Mustang GTs in the 2023 Supercars Championship, driven by Chaz Mostert and Nick Percat.
While WAU’s switch to Ford comes after more than three-decades of rivalry, the links to Ford spread right throughout all three arms of Walkinshaw Andretti United.
“In Walkinshaw Andretti United we see an organisation with the same core values and beliefs, a passion for the sport and that real drive to win,” Ford Australia president and chief executive Andrew Birkic says.
“They will join our existing Ford teams in Dick Johnson Racing, Tickford Racing, Grove Racing and Blanchard Racing Team to create a formidable pony line-up on the grid. We’re excited to welcome our former rivals into the family, and look forward to many years of success in conjunction with WAU,” he says.
Walkinshaw’s history with Ford dates back to 1974, when Tom Walkinshaw was hired by Ford to drive a Capri V6 in the British Touring Car Championship, taking the class victory.
Ryan Walkinshaw says that this announcement marks a new era for Walkinshaw Andretti United.
“For more than three decades we have gone head-to-head in competition with Ford, but joining forces with them for Gen3 was the clear direction forward,” Walkinshaw says.
“Walkinshaw Andretti United is a business with three international branches, and all share a history with Ford. Incredibly, my mum and dad met while Dad was racing a Ford Capri in the British Touring Car Championship.
“To have manufacturer support once again is essential for our race team and the goals we have, and we thank Ford for their trust in us,” he says.
Ford and the Andretti family share deep roots. Mario Andretti won the Formula 1 World Championship, IndyCar Championship, Daytona 500, Indianapolis 500, Sebring 12-Hour and more with Ford.
Michael Andretti won the 1983 Formula Mondial North American Cup in a Ralt-Ford RT4, before using Ford power in the IndyCar series throughout the 1990s. Michael’s relationship with Ford also continued into Formula 1, when he partnered Ayrton Senna at McLaren in 1993.
“It’s an exciting day for us at Walkinshaw Andretti United, announcing that we will race the Ford Mustang in 2023 and beyond. We share a great history with Ford, there are clear links right throughout our entire organisation. To be a factory supported team for the first time since Walkinshaw Andretti United was born, gives us the best opportunity to achieve our goals,” Andretti says.
Ford Performance motorsports global director Mark Rushbrook says that joining forces with Walkinshaw Andretti United in the Supercars Championship is a watershed moment.
“The Walkinshaw and Andretti names all have great history with Ford and a deep passion for motorsport through the years. Motorsport is in Ford’s DNA, and we’ve shared some incredible moments together. We look forward to building on those moments further with WAU in Supercars.”
While for the remainder of the 2022 season Walkinshaw Andretti United and Ford will remain rivals on-track, WAU will become part of the Gen3 development program with both Chaz Mostert and Nick Percat to drive the Gen3 Mustang GT prototype in the near future.
