Bring it on.
That was the message from new Supercars series leader Fabian Coulthard to Walkinshaw Racing’s revamped 2018 team despite their threat becoming apparent at the Bathurst 1000.
Coulthard had to settle for third in Sunday’s wet and wild Great Race after being held out by WR’s Scott Pye for second as Holden cult hero David Reynolds claimed his maiden crown.
Pye proved too good for Coulthard, who only nabbed a podium spot after a late mistake by Holden’s Nick Percat.
Walkinshaw will only be stronger next year after announcing a blockbuster deal with US motorsport great Michael Andretti and McLaren Formula One chief Zak Brown.
In a game-changing call, IndyCar heavyweights Andretti Autosport and Brown’s United Autosports will buy into the once-mighty Holden team from 2018.
From January 1 the team will be known as Walkinshaw Andretti Autosport.
But Coulthard appeared unfazed by the looming threat, in fact considering it a compliment that Andretti had followed the lead of his DJR Team Penske boss – US giant Roger Penske – in entering Supercars.
“I think it is awesome. I think with Roger coming into the series it has broadened everyone’s horizons,” he said.
“To have Andretti join, I think Roger played a big part in them noticing Supercars and putting it on the world stage.
“I think it is fantastic if more want to join.”
Penske revitalised ailing Ford heavyweight Dick Johnson Racing by grabbing a controlling interest and rebranding it DJR Team Penske in late 2014.
They are now the Supercars pacesetters with Coulthard leading the series and teammate Scott McLaughlin in third spot despite a dreaded DNF at Bathurst.
Yet the renewed WR threat looks even more ominous next year.
Andretti – in Bathurst this weekend – admitted it was “very, very likely” that he would inject his US-based drivers in Supercars endurance rounds as part of the deal.
That means his son Marco Andretti, Ryan Hunter-Reay and Alex Rossi could soon feature in a Bathurst assault.
Yet not much could dampen Coulthard’s spirits after the Bathurst 1000 – not even McLaughlin’s horror day on Sunday.
McLaughlin was the man to beat after breaking the Supercars lap record to claim pole on Saturday, becoming the first driver to crack 2min:04sec on the notorious street circuit.
However, the Ford gun lasted just 74 laps before retiring with mechanical problems to relinquish the series lead to his teammate Coulthard.
McLaughlin has never featured on a Bathurst podium despite starting on the front row for a third straight year.
“I feel sorry for Scotty but yesterday was amazing so that was a highlight but for us to finish on the podium is another,” Coulthard said.
Coulthard leads the Supercars series ahead of the October 20-22 Gold Coast round on 2431 points ahead of Holden great Jamie Whincup (2340) and McLaughlin (2334).