Walkinshaw Andretti United (WAU) has today confirmed the Team’s 2023 endurance line-up, with 2021 Bathurst winner Lee Holdsworth returning to the Team alongside 2022 Bathurst 1000 runner-up Fabian Coulthard.
Holdsworth will reunite with Chaz Mostert in the Mobil 1 Optus Racing No. 25 Ford Mustang GT, and Coulthard will partner Nick Percat in the Mobil 1 NTI Racing No. 2 Ford Mustang GT at both the Sandown 500 and Bathurst 1000 in 2023.
Alongside his role as WAU Super2 Driver Development Advisor, Warren Luff will also remain as a contracted driver with Walkinshaw Andretti United, with his 2023 driving plans to be announced in due course.
For Holdsworth, he returns to Walkinshaw Andretti United following his final year full time in the Supercars Championship with Grove Racing in 2022. He reunites with Mostert, with their last race together being the 2021 Bathurst 1000 victory.
The 2022 Barry Sheene Medallist has 510 races, 227 round starts to date and has yielded four race wins, including a Bathurst 1000 victory, four pole positions and 16 podiums.
Coulthard enters his second consecutive season with Walkinshaw Andretti United after joining at the beginning of 2022, reaping immediate rewards with his podium finish at the Bathurst 1000.
His 472 race, 215 round career to date has seen Coulthard achieve 13 race wins, nine pole positions and 61 podiums, two of those at the Bathurst 1000.
Both will play key roles in the Gen3 transition alongside their respective teammates, starting today at Winton Motor Raceway as both cars complete their shakedowns – where all four drivers will be in attendance.
Bruce Stewart - Team Principal
“It’s fantastic to have Lee back, and Fabian on board again for 2023, to have two drivers of their calibre – and with their experience in our endurance line-up is a real asset to us. It’s an incredibly strong line-up.
“Two events mean more on-track time for both drivers, but undoubtedly, their experience behind the wheel will be really important as we all adapt to Gen3 as quickly as possible – so we are lucky to have them.
“Of course, we won’t be letting Luffy go that easily either, he’s going to have a really important role helping our Super2 drivers on and off track, but also, we’re working on what an on-track program for him in 2023 looks like.
“It’s going to be a big year on all fronts, but will be fantastic to have Fabian, Lee and Warren around the team as we tackle the year head on.”
Fabian Coulthard - Mobil 1 NTI Racing
“It’s awesome to be back with WAU for another year, and I’m looking forward to teaming up with Nick in the Mobil 1 NTI Racing Mustang.
“Having two endurance events back on the calendar is great, so the programme really starts now, putting ourselves in the best possible position for later in the year.
“The team have done a great job getting these cars ready over summer, they look incredible, so it will be great to get a few laps at the shakedown to start to understand the new rig – I think it will be really important come endurance season.”
Lee Holdsworth - Mobil 1 Optus Racing
“It’s fantastic to back at WAU and back alongside Chaz. When I hung the helmet up from full-time racing at the end of last year, I wanted to put myself back in the best position possible this endurance season and that was with WAU – our last race together turned out alright.
“Having the two enduros this year is awesome, and Sandown is the perfect lead up to Bathurst so it’ll be great to be in the Mobil 1 Optus Racing Mustang.
“There will be a lot to learn for us co-drivers this year with Gen3, so adapting as quickly as possible is going to be really important, so it’s great to be involved this early in the year – the team has done an incredible job with these cars over the break.”