Triple Eight engineer Grant McPherson departs for Walkinshaw Andretti United

Walkinshaw Andretti United will have a new face in its garage next year though not behind the wheel of one of its ZB Commodores, rival team Triple Eight today announcing engineer Grant McPherson will leave Banyo squad for Clayton in 2021.

Having joined Triple Eight in 2015 after a seven-year stint with Ford Performance Racing (now Tickford), McPherson has recently been the lead engineer for Shane van Gisbergen, the pair winning the 2016 Supercars championship together as well as the 2020 Bathurst 1000.

Announced through Speedcafe.com, Triple Eight boss Roland Dane says there’s no hard feelings towards the man known as “Shippy” but the lead Holden team is unsure whether it will fill his position from an internal or external hiring process.

“Grant has handed in his notice to go to Walkinshaw’s, which is fair enough,”  Dane.

“We understand why he wants to move on. It’s obviously a chance at promotion so he goes with our blessing.

“He’s done a great job for us and we’ve enjoyed the last six years together, but graveyards are full of indispensable people.

“We’ll no doubt fill his position either internally or externally and crack on with life.

“We haven’t decided yet (how to replace McPherson), but put it this way, the phone hasn’t stopped ringing,” he said.

“I think we’ll probably deal with it at our own speed and in private. Everyone will see the outcome in due course.”

McPherson will be on six months leave from Triple Eight before joining WAU in the middle of next year.