There will be three good reasons why Walkinshaw Andretti United (WAU) drivers will want to lift their game for the Holden heavyweights in next week’s Supercars round in Melbourne.
WAU drivers Scott Pye and former series champion James Courtney are licking their wounds after an effort in last weekend’s season-opening round in Adelaide deemed « not good enough » by team boss Mathew Nilsson.
While the new Ford Mustang soared with defending series champion Scott McLaughlin sweeping the first round, Courtney and Pye battled to sit 12th and second-last in the drivers’ standings respectively when the dust settled on the tough street circuit.
But they will have plenty of motivation at the Australian Grand Prix support event with WAU’s three high profile owners coming together at a Supercars round for the first time.
Ryan Walkinshaw, McLaren Formula 1 team boss Zak Brown and Andretti Autosport owner – US IndyCar legend Michael Andretti – are confirmed to be in attendance for the Melbourne 400.
Courtney and Pye were already feeling the heat after a horror season opener that drew the ire of Nilsson.
The Holden outfit had talked up their chances after a successful test day backed by a stellar Adelaide record.
As Walkinshaw Racing, they had claimed podiums in all but four events of the Adelaide round’s 21-year history but left with their tails between their legs.
Courtney finished 10th and 12th in the two 250km races while Pye could only claim 17th in race two after retiring in the opener following a mid-race bingle.
« Results weren’t what we were aiming to achieve and not good enough for the standard we want to set ourselves so there’s plenty of work to do, » Nilsson told speedcafe.com.
Pye will at least be buoyed by the fact that he claimed WAU’s first win in Melbourne last year.
Walkinshaw Racing joined forces with Andretti and Brown in October, 2017.
http://www.espn.com/v8-supercars/story/_/id/26176095/holden-giant-aims-lift-melbourne
