Tickford bosses explain 'blue blood' Winterbottom deal

Mark Winterbottom returns to Tickford Racing as a "tremendous benefit" and "huge asset" to the team, according to the squad's bosses.

Winterbottom will make an emotional reunion to the Blue Oval next season, with the 2015 Supercars champion signing with Tickford as co-driver and young driver mentor.

The 2013 Bathurst winner will race alongside star Cam Waters at The Bend and Bathurst, with Ford winless in Supercars endurance races since the 2019 Bathurst 1000.

Winterbottom will also mentor Tickford Autosport's rising stars in the development series.

For nearly 20 years, Winterbottom has been one of the most marketable athletes in Australian sport, notably winning nearly 40 races and running at the top of Supercars during his time with Tickford.

After a rollercoaster six-year spell with Team 18 and General Motors, Winterbottom returns to the team that gave him his greatest successes. The team, meanwhile, believes it will benefit greatly from his experience and star power.

"Mark’s return to Tickford Racing is a tremendous benefit for the business, not just because of how he operates but also because of the person he is," team owner Rod Nash said.

"I have always held the utmost respect for him, both as a great sportsman and as an individual. He is incredibly respectful to everyone, consistently driven to succeed and achieve, and highly structured in everything he pursues.

"Mark is a fascinating and knowledgeable statesman, and I’ve always believed he has ‘blue blood’ running through him. For our team and Ford, it’s fantastic to have the homing pigeon returning to the nest.

Winterbottom not only won the 2013 Great Race and 2015 drivers' title with Tickford, but also the 2006 and 2015 Sandown 500s. Between 2006 and 2017, Winterbottom finished no lower than sixth in the championship, and finished third or better seven times.

It's that success and experience that Tickford is also hoping Winterbottom can instil into its next generation of stars, with Rylan Gray, Lochie Dalton and recruit Reuben Goodall to race Tickford Super2 Mustangs in the 2025 Dunlop Series.

“Mark is a living legend of the sport, and having him return home to Tickford is both a fantastic story and a huge asset for the team, both on and off the track," Tickford CEO Simon Brookhouse said.

"His role within the team is truly unique, reflecting his character and immense wealth of experience. We’re especially excited about his mentorship in the Tickford Autosport programme — not only giving him the platform to share his knowledge but also to extend his legacy by coaching and nurturing the next generation of talented drivers.

"We can’t wait to welcome him to the team for 2025."