Rare trackside absence for Team 18 boss

It will be a different look and feel at Team 18 this weekend, with team owner Charlie Schwerkolt absent from a Supercars event for the first time in 20 years.

Schwerkolt, who runs the Mount Waverley squad that operates cars for Mark Winterbottom and Scott Pye, will be in Singapore this weekend.

The Team 18 boss will be in Singapore not only for work commitments, but will also be attending the Formula One Singapore Grand Prix.

In Schwerkolt’s absence, Team Manager Bruin Beasley will head trackside operates of Team 18, supported by Crew Chief Dennis Huijser.

Schwerkolt is a constant presence in Team 18’s garages, and often runs corporate meet-and-greet tours.

It has already been a big year for Schwerkolt’s team, which won for the first time courtesy of Winterbottom in Darwin in June.

Winterbottom will share the #18 DEWALT Camaro at Sandown and Bathurst with Michael Caruso, with Pye sharing the #20 Toyota Forklifts Chevrolet with Warren Luff.

"It’s actually pretty surreal to say I won’t be attending a Supercars round this weekend as I haven’t missed an event in over 20 years," Schwerkolt said.

"It’s exciting to be in Singapore for the F1 Grand Prix this weekend. I’ve been there for business a couple of times this year, but this weekend will be special as I get to experience the grand prix with my son which has really become a marquee event on the global motorsport calendar.

"I'll be glued to the screen watching every second of the action from Singapore and will be in close contact with the team across the weekend."

Schwerkolt isn’t the first team boss to miss an event this year, with Triple Eight Managing Director and Team Principal Jamie Whincup missing the NED Whisky Tasmania SuperSprint.

Whincup was absent for the Symmons Plains round as he travelled to Germany to meet with Mercedes-AMG powerbrokers.

Supercars will be on track from Friday at the Penrite Oil Sandown 500. Tickets are on sale now.