Ford hails 'exceptional' first win with WAU
Ford hails 'exceptional' first win with WAU
Chaz Mostert helped WAU to first Ford win on 37th attempt
Ford swept Perth round with Cam Waters winning on Sunday
Walkinshaw Andretti United's first win with Ford has "cemented" the team as part of the Blue Oval family, says Ford Motorsport Engineer Brendan McGinniskin.
On the 37th attempt, WAU finally reached victory lane as a Ford team courtesy of Chaz Mostert in Perth last weekend.
Mostert was a regular of the podium last season, WAU's first with Ford, but narrowly fell short of victory, notably in the second race of the year in Newcastle.
Come Perth, and Mostert was peerless, winning from pole on Saturday before being denied a sweep on Sunday after a penalty. Ford remained on top, however, thanks to Tickford Racing star Cam Waters.
The result wasn't lost on Ford, which gained WAU from the General Motors side of the divide. WAU previously campaigned Commodores between 1990 and 2022, and famously operated as the all-conquering Holden Racing Team.
Speaking on the On the Grid podcast, McGinniskin expressed his delight for the Clayton squad, which moved to second in the teams' championship over the weekend.
"To get their first win as a Ford was obviously exceptional for those guys as a group, and really cemented their change from what was a highly-publicised switch from the other side of the fence over to ours," McGinniskin said.
"I couldn't be happier for those guys. They're a great bunch of guys who work extremely hard at what they do just as all of our teams do.
"Being able to see how they operate first-hand from the engineering perspective and being able to relate to that directly... it's super impressive."
Ford drivers now occupy seven of the top 10 positions in the drivers' championship, while four Ford teams are in the top five in the teams' championship.
WAU Team Principal Caul Faux said the team is in a "good place" heading to Darwin, where Mostert helped WAU to victory, albeit in Commodores, in 2021 and 2022.
"To be on the podium both days, and cross the line first on both days, was pretty special," Faux said.
"The front-row lock-out on Saturday, with Chaz on pole and Ryan alongside him, was very special. Taking the first Ford win of the year was also great.
“We’re looking forward to going to Darwin and the next couple of races. We’re in a good place."
The season will resume at the betr Darwin Triple Crown on June 14-16.
