Walkinshaw Performance slims to three cars

Walkinshaw Performance looks set to reduce to three cars next year, with one of the team’s licences used by Bundaberg Red Racing up for sale.

Walkinshaw Performance run the two Holden Racing Team cars as well as the two Bundaberg Red Racing cars, the latter being run as a two car team for the first time this season after the fourth Walkinshaw car was run under the Autobarn banner for Paul Dumbrell last year.

New Zealand driver Fabian Coulthard, also a second cousin of DTM driver David Coulthard, will be retained by the team next season with Bundaberg Red backing, but it appears the Queensland based rum manufacturer is slimming down its support next season, forcing the team to put its fourth licence up for sale.

Andrew Thompson, who currently drives the No.10 Bundaberg Red Racing Holden Commodore, has been told he won’t be with the team for next season after an internal review after Bathurst.

Bundaberg Red Racing are the lowest placed of the two car teams in the championship standings in 13th, with a number of one car entries ahead of them such as the Bottle-O Racing Ford Falcon of former driver Dumbrell, and the Dick Johnson Racing single car entry for Jonathon Webb.

Craig Wilson, CEO of Walkinshaw Performance, confirms a number of teams are interested in the fourth Racing Entitlements Contract (REC) of the team, and a decision on the teams plans will probably be within the next ten days, though doesn’t rule out that Walkinshaw could still end up running four cars next year if it isn’t sold.