WAU reunites Holdsworth with Mostert for enduros

Lee Holdsworth will reunite with Chaz Mostert for the 2023 enduros at Walkinshaw Andretti United, the team has confirmed.

Holdsworth, who retired from full-time driving at the end of 2022, won the 2021 Great Race with Mostert.

The victory propelled Holdsworth back into the main game with Penrite Racing, before he retired at season’s end.

Holdsworth’s arrival sees Fabian Coulthard shift into Nick Percat’s #2 Mobil 1 NTI Mustang.

Coulthard replaced Holdsworth for the 2022 Great Race, and he helped Mostert to second.

It ends conjecture over where Holdsworth would land, although he regularly cited he had secured a leading 2023 co-drive.

The news comes ahead of WAU’s maiden laps with its new Gen3 Ford Mustangs.

The team revealed its two race liveries on Monday.

WAU is now armed with arguably one of the strongest driver line-ups in recent memory, with the Penrite Oil Sandown 500 preceding the Repco Bathurst 1000.

Famous victory in 2021

WAU also confirmed Warren Luff — who has co-driven for the team since 2014 — will remain a contracted WAU driver.

Six-time Bathurst podium-finisher Luff is WAU's Super2 Driver Development Advisor.

In the team release, WAU stated Luff’s 2023 driving plans will be announced in due course.

“It’s fantastic to have Lee back, and Fabian on board again for 2023,” WAU Team Principal Bruce Stewart said.

"To have two drivers of their calibre – and with their experience in our endurance line-up — is a real asset to us. It’s an incredibly strong line-up.

"Two events mean more on-track time for both drivers, but undoubtedly, their experience behind the wheel will be really important as we all adapt to Gen3 as quickly as possible – so we are lucky to have them.

"Of course, we won’t be letting Luffy go that easily either, he’s going to have a really important role helping our Super2 drivers on and off track, but also, we’re working on what an on-track program for him in 2023 looks like.

"It’s going to be a big year on all fronts, but will be fantastic to have Fabian, Lee and Warren around the team as we tackle the year head on."

Holdsworth and Coulthard will get behind the wheel of their respective Fords at WAU’s Wednesday Winton shakedown.

Second for Mostert/Coulthard in 2022

"It’s fantastic to back at WAU and back alongside Chaz,” Holdsworth said.

"When I hung the helmet up from full-time racing at the end of last year, I wanted to put myself back in the best position possible this endurance season and that was with WAU – our last race together turned out alright.

"Having the two enduros this year is awesome, and Sandown is the perfect lead up to Bathurst so it’ll be great to be in the Mobil 1 Optus Racing Mustang.

"There will be a lot to learn for us co-drivers this year with Gen3, so adapting as quickly as possible is going to be really important.

“So it’s great to be involved this early in the year – the team has done an incredible job with these cars over the break.”

Coulthard added: “It’s awesome to be back with WAU for another year, and I’m looking forward to teaming up with Nick in the Mobil 1 NTI Racing Mustang.

"Having two endurance events back on the calendar is great, so the programme really starts now, putting ourselves in the best possible position for later in the year.

"The team have done a great job getting these cars ready over summer, they look incredible, so it will be great to get a few laps at the shakedown to start to understand the new rig – I think it will be really important come endurance season."

The 2023 Repco Supercars Championship will commence at the Thrifty Newcastle 500 on March 10-12.

Tickets are on sale on Supercars.com and Ticketek.com.