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WALKINSHAW IS BACK

Ryan Walkinshaw is back - Image: InSyde Media

By Mark Fogarty

Walkinshaw Andretti United co-owner Ryan Walkinshaw is back after a long COVID-19 absence.

Monaco-based Walkinshaw will be out of hotel quarantine in time for next week’s Winton SuperSprint.

WAU is in a Chaz Mostert-led revival, contending for race wins.

Walkinshaw finally received approval to return to Australia last week.

He is quarantining at a Sydney hotel for the mandated two weeks.

He got back on May 7 and will be cleared on May 21, when he can return to Melbourne.

It is understood he participated in Tuesday’s Gen3 ‘crisis meeting’ of team owners by video link from his Sydney hotel.

He runs his family-owned automotive group, which converts Chevrolet and RAM pick-ups to right hand drive, and WAU, which is co-owned by McLaren F1 boss Zak Brown and IndyCar legend Michael Andretti.

Walkinshaw has transformed the former Holden-based HSV business and masterminded the slow recovery of the former Holden Racing Team.

Under local team principal Bruce Stewart, WAU has returned as a front-runner with Mostert and a bolstered engineering team under Carl Faux.

Walkinshaw is quarantining in a Sydney hotel, running his businesses by phone and video calls.

He will be at Winton from May 28-30 to see how WAU and Mostert can capitalise on their front-running form.

He will also no doubt have further talks with Mostert about staying next year and beyond despite strong interest from Triple Eight as a replacement for retiring Jamie Whincup.

The betting is that Mostert will re-sign with WAU for at least two years to complete his mission to lead the Clayton squad back to consistent glory, including a championship.

Walkinshaw will stay here for several months, possibly through the remainder of the Supercars championship, scheduled to finish at the December 3-5 Gold Coast 500.

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