Walkinshaw Andretti United co-owner Zak Brown is hopeful of Bathurst victory in his first time trackside in three years.
Brown is trackside with WAU and fellow team owner Ryan Walkinshaw this weekend.
The 2019 Bathurst 1000 was Brown’s last formal appearance at a Supercars event.
WAU duly brought home a podium courtesy of James Courtney and Jack Perkins.
The team won the 2021 race in a canter, with Chaz Mostert and Lee Holdsworth taking the team’s eighth win.
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Qualifying Highlights – Bathurst | 01:35
Critically, it was the first Bathurst win under the Walkinshaw Andretti United guise, which debuted in 2018.
Brown, the McLaren Formula One boss, has chosen Mount Panorama over Suzuka, which is hosting this weekend’s Japanese Grand Prix.
Brown though reportedly refused to answer any questions about McLaren, Daniel Ricciardo’s exit or Oscar Piastri’s impending arrival.
Brown did address the FIA’s delay in certifying the 2021 cost cap data amid speculation over the weekend that Red Bull and Aston Martin may be in breach of the cap.
“I don’t know more than anyone else,” said Brown.
“The certificates were supposed to be distributed on Wednesday and they have now been postponed to Monday, which means for some reason they are not ready.
“You can, based on the speculation, assume a team or two haven’t complied. I don’t know that to be the case.
“Cost caps are critically important, and we need to make sure it is enforced [and] if someone has breached that, the appropriate penalties, not just financial, but sporting and technical, are put in place.
“If you bend the rules technically [or] in sporting, you get penalties, and financials should be the same.
“Because if someone has overspent, then that gives them an on track unfair advantage, and it needs to be dealt with accordingly firmly and quickly.”
RED FLAG! Scary crash in Bathurst | 00:46
Former Formula 1 racing director and now Supercars Commission Chair Michael Masi was another point of discussion, with Brown “glad” the Australian has a new role in the sport.
“It’s unfortunate what happened there, I think he’s a very good race steward and he’s a racer” he said.
“So I’m glad to see that he’s in Supercars, because I think he adds value.”
Going back to the action on the track in Bathurst, given McLaren’s 2021 result and Brown being on the ground, the American is hoping WAU can make it count.
“It’s my second time in Bathurst, first time in Australia in a few years,” Brown told assembled media.
“I watched it last year on TV and we got the trophy.
“I’m up in the middle of the night often, watching the races on SuperView.
“We need a little bit more consistency to fight for the championship.
“We’ve got cars that can win, and I hope we win this weekend.
“But it’s tough competition.”
WAU will shift to Ford in 2023 when the Gen3 era commences.
The team has run Commodores since its inception in 1990.
Practice 2 Highlights Bathurst | 01:29
Brown is a noted collector of race cars, and owns the team’s 2011 Bathurst-winning Commodore.
WAU’s final race as a General Motors squad will be the season-ending VALO Adelaide 500.
Brown cited winning in Bathurst and Adelaide as key to sending off Holden and GM’s relationship with WAU.
“It’s a very important race for us,” Brown said of Bathurst.
“This and Adelaide are two trophies that would mean a lot to us, given our longstanding Holden relationship.
“I’m fortunate to be the owner of the last works Holden Bathurst winner.
“Holden is an awesome racing company, as is Ford.
“Jim Farley [global Ford boss] is a good friend, and Mark Rushbrook [global Ford motorsport boss], they’re massive fans of motor racing.
“The car looks awesome, it’s exciting for Supercars, it’s going to be a new chapter for us.
“I’m sure we’re going to win races together.”
— with supercars.com
