Door not closed on 2023 WAU Bathurst wildcard

Walkinshaw Andretti United is set to look into a potential Bathurst wildcard as the 2023 season progresses.

WAU last ran a Great Race wildcard for IndyCar stars Alexander Rossi and James Hinchcliffe in 2019.

There is set to be at least one wildcard in this year’s Repco Bathurst 1000, with Triple Eight partnering Zane Goddard with Craig Lowndes.

WAU retained Warren Luff as a contracted driver, despite Lee Holdsworth and Fabian Coulthard partnering Chaz Mostert and Nick Percat for the 2023 enduros.

Luff is also the team's Super2 Driver Development Advisor, with WAU rejoining the development series in 2023. The team will also field an entry in Toyota 86.

Speaking to media at the recent Beaurepaires Melbourne SuperSprint, team co-owner Ryan Walkinshaw reiterated that WAU’s focus has been centred on the new season and its switch to Ford and Gen3.

However, Walkinshaw said the team will look into its wildcard prospects as the season progresses.

“Like always, if there’s a business case for it and we can find the talent that’s going to add value and add some excitement, then it’s something we’re going to look at,” Walkinshaw said in Melbourne.

The Rossi/Hinchcliffe car in 2019

“It’s still pretty early days in the conversation for us — the last couple of months were about getting our cars ready for Newcastle.

“Now we’re getting through the first few rounds, then we’ll start thinking about what we do for wildcards.”

Luff has been with WAU since 2014, and scored Bathurst podiums for the team in 2015, 2017, 2018 and 2020.

Given WAU’s ties to the likes to United Autosports and Andretti Autosport, a Luff wildcard could be complemented by international star power.

“There’s definitely an opportunity there. Luffy’s been retained by the team as an option for a wildcard,” Walkinshaw added.

“We do have an asset there with good local knowledge, he’s been on the podium a thousand times there.

“So if we can find a good, exciting driver to go with him, it’s something we’ll consider.

“It’s not the top priority at the moment for the team, but it’s something we’ll start to investigate further throughout the season."

Walkinshaw added that the team would need to complete a spare chassis for Mostert and Percat before building a prospective wildcard car.

WAU is no stranger to wildcards, having entered a third car for Jayden Ojeda and Kurt Kostecki in solo rounds in recent years.

Scheduling could prove another obstacle, although the 2023 IndyCar season ends four weeks before October’s Repco Bathurst 1000.

Rossi, however, said last year that he would pursue another Great Race start, but only if he managed to secure more Bathurst experience beforehand.

“Obviously we ran Michael [Andretti]’s IndyCar guys in the past,” team co-owner Zak Brown added.

“It’s something that we do talk about from time to time, but we haven’t focused on it yet.

“All of our drivers bug me about it, so there’s a desire, but then you get into scheduling, and does it make sense.

“Whether it’s this year or in the future, I would not be surprised to see some of our drivers in a wildcard.”

Mostert and Percat are second and 25th in the drivers’ standings heading to the next round in Perth.

The 2023 Repco Supercars Championship will resume at the Bosch Power Tools Perth SuperSprint on April 28-30.