Tickford's surprise special gift for departing Edwards

Outgoing Tickford Racing boss Tim Edwards has been surprised with a farewell gift helmet at the VAILO Adelaide 500.

Edwards will leave Tickford after this weekend, and will join Supercars in 2024 after a 19-year stint at the helm of the squad.

Prior to Thursday’s first session, Edwards was gifted a helmet by star driver Cam Waters in front of the whole team.

The helmet is blue, complete with messages for the outgoing boss, logos of the team and the highlights recorded under his charge.

With Edwards at the helm, Tickford won a drivers’ championship, two Bathurst 1000s and over 80 races. He also fostered the Supercars careers of the likes of Waters, Chaz Mostert, Thomas Randle, Declan Fraser and Broc Feeney.

Tickford co-owner Rod Nash, Team Manager Matt Roberts and Supercars CEO Shane Howard were among the figures to congratulate Edwards on the helmet.

“I can’t say thank you enough to Tim and [wife] Trudie for all the years,” Waters said.

“Thank you for everything you’ve done for us, mate. We were going to buy you some camping gear, but apparently that’s not needed now.”

Edwards will join Supercars in 2024 as its new General Manager of Motorsport.

The former Team Manager of Formula One squad Jordan, Edwards replaced Adrian Burgess, who will join Team 18 in 2024.

Burgess has been Supercars’ Head of Motorsport since 2018, with his next month announced on Thursday morning.