WAU didn't want to stand in McPherson's way

Walkinshaw Andretti United had no intentions to hold up engineer Grant McPherson, who has been released early to move to Grove Racing.

McPherson joined WAU from Triple Eight following the 2020 season, but underwent ‘gardening leave’.

McPherson, a Bathurst- and championship-winning engineer, joined WAU as its Head of Performance.

The departure of Geoffrey Slater mid-season saw McPherson shift to race engineering on Nick Percat’s car.

He skippered Percat’s Commodore through to Bathurst before he was released to join his new team.

McPherson, nicknamed ’Shippy’, will be Penrite Racing’s Technical Director.

It reunites McPherson with fellow Triple Eight alumnus David Cauchi, who is Penrite Racing’s Team Principal.

“Shippy had an opportunity to have an advancement in his career,” WAU Team Principal Bruce Stewart told Supercars.com.

“Like anyone in any race team, particularly ours, if you get an opportunity to proceed forwards, we’re not going to stop you.

“We’ve got to celebrate that and be happy that people are making something better in their lives, or taking a step forwards.”

WAU has replaced McPherson with Adam Austin, who is Percat’s third race engineer in 2022.

Austin started on the #2 Mobil 1 NTI car at last weekend’s Gold Coast event.

McPherson (R) has helped the team return to the winner's circle

He has been with WAU for three years, and was previously in the role of a data engineer.

Austin also oversaw WAU's wildcard entries of Kurt Kostecki (2021) and Jayden Ojeda (2022).

Stewart was excited to help progress Austin’s career.

“[McPherson] was with us through Bathurst, and then we agreed to let him move into his new role and start at Grove this week,” Stewart said.

“Equally, it gives us a good opportunity to progress someone else’s life a bit further, and take them into another stage.”

Percat is 16th in the points heading to the season-ending VALO Adelaide 500.

WAU teammate Chaz Mostert, who is engineered by Adam De Borre, is third overall.