Historic Holden racing powerhouse announces switch to Ford Mustang from 2023
The final nail has been hammered into the coffin of the Holden Racing Team with a shock switch to the Ford Mustang for season 2023.
The team that flew the Holden flag for more than 15 years, now known as Walkinshaw Andretti United, is celebrating the switch to the new Gen3 era in Supercars racing with a brand change.
After failing in a bid to lure Jaguar or BMW into Supercars, and despite the arrival of the all-new Chevrolet Camaro as the replacement for the current ZB Commodore contender, WAU is moving from General Motors to Ford.
A pair of Ford Mustangs will be rolled into action next year for Chaz Mostert and Nick Percat as WAU celebrates a return of full manufacturer backing in Supercars.
“We’ve been exploring what we needed to become a factory team again for a couple of years,” said WAU joint owner, Ryan Walkinshaw.
“It’s not the fact that we fell out with GM. We wanted to make a change. We wanted to be a factory team and wanted a partnership where we felt we were wanted.
“In the end we have several options, but this was the one that felt right.”
Confirmation of the new deal came right from the top at Ford, which will release a new-generation Mustang next year, with global CEO Jim Farley announcing the plan.
“This is a really important series for us. This is a really important moment for the company,” said Farley.
Ford Australia says the Supercars deal is not a pointer to any potential road-car tie-up with the Walkinshaw Group, but a move to strengthen its Mustang presence in Gen3.
“It’s all about building a stronger team. This will take us to a new level,” said Ford Australia president Andrew Birkic.
“We want to win races. We’re very unapologetic about that. But we also want a team that’s stable.
“We want teams that are super competitive. And really connected to the fan base.”
The Holden fan base has already reacted angrily to news of WAU’s defection to Ford.
“It hurts. It’s quite painful,” said John Crennan, one of the founders of the HRT and also Holden Special Vehicles.
“I am somewhat devastated, to say the least. I have much the same feeling as when Holden accounted their shock announcement [to close].
“Emotionally, it rocks me somewhat. And I fail to see the logic.
“If it’s been a product selection – to do better with the Mustang than the Camaro – then it’s probably as dumb a decision as I’m seen in motorsport.
“As dumb as what we saw with Peter Brock’s decision in 1987, in favour of an Energy Polariser over his relationship with Holden.”
Even Walkinshaw admits the switch to Ford will take some adjustment.
“It still feels a little bit weird. It hasn’t hit home,” he said.
“You expect some passionate response. Disappointment. Anger. [But] the vast majority of our fans will follow us because of who we are.”
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Keyword: Holden Supercars heroes defect to Ford