Walkinshaw TWG Racing, a prominent team in the Australian Supercars Championship, has announced a significant change in its ownership structure with the addition of Kiwi businessman Scott O’Donnell and his ODFI Ltd as co-owners and directors. The move, confirmed on Tuesday, marks a recent chapter for the team, following the departure of Zak Brown’s United Autosports at the end of 2025. This restructuring returns the team to a three-pronged ownership model.
O’Donnell’s investment comes through ODFI Ltd, joining the existing ownership of the Walkinshaw Group and TWG Motorsport, led by Dan Towriss. The team’s name, Walkinshaw TWG Racing – adopted in January after rebranding from Walkinshaw Andretti United – will remain unchanged. The addition of O’Donnell effectively fills the void left by United Autosports, who sold their stake to focus on international endurance racing. The team’s ownership was initially split between Walkinshaw Group and TWG Motorsports after United’s exit, but now returns to a tripartite structure.
A Familiar Face to Walkinshaw TWG Racing
Ryan Walkinshaw, a key figure in the team, expressed his enthusiasm about O’Donnell’s arrival. “I’ve known Scott for a very long time now, we’ve worked extremely well together in the past, he’s been a loyal and key supporter of the team, and we are now delighted to welcome him on board,” Walkinshaw said. “He knows the team well, the people, how we operate, so he’s really hit the ground running.” This existing rapport is expected to facilitate a smooth transition and continued success for the racing outfit.
O’Donnell’s connection to the team extends beyond a simple business transaction. He is a director of the HW Richardson Group, a New Zealand-based conglomerate with 46 companies and 2,000 employees across six sectors. Notably, HW Richardson acts as the New Zealand distributor for Mobil 1 Lubricants, a major sponsor of Walkinshaw TWG Racing, meaning O’Donnell already had established ties with the team. Speedcafe.com reports that O’Donnell recently stepped down from a position on the KiwiRail board of directors to dedicate more time to this new venture in Australia.
TWG Motorsport’s Expanding Portfolio
The ownership changes at Walkinshaw TWG Racing occur within a broader context of expansion for TWG Motorsport. Led by CEO Dan Towriss, TWG Motorsports recently took over from Andretti Global, absorbing its Cadillac F1 project, as well as its teams in IndyCar, Supercars, NASCAR (Spire Motorsports), and sportscar racing (Wayne Taylor Racing). Supercars.com details that TWG Motorsports operates under the TWG Global umbrella, which also has interests in Chelsea Football Club and the Los Angeles Dodgers.
The Departure of United Autosports
The shift in ownership at Walkinshaw TWG Racing began with the decision by Zak Brown and United Autosports to step away from the team at the end of 2025. This led to the rebranding from Walkinshaw Andretti United to Walkinshaw TWG Racing in January. United Autosports’ decision was driven by a desire to concentrate on its international endurance racing commitments. The sale of United’s stake initially saw the Walkinshaw Group and TWG Motorsports divide the ownership before O’Donnell’s investment brought the team back to a three-way partnership.
The Supercars Championship is gearing up for another competitive season, and Walkinshaw TWG Racing, with its refreshed ownership structure, aims to be a frontrunner. The team currently fields two Toyota Supras, driven by Chaz Mostert and another driver, and will continue to operate as a Toyota homologation team. The addition of O’Donnell and ODFI Ltd provides a stable and well-connected investment, positioning the team for continued growth and success in the years to come.
Further updates regarding the team’s performance and future plans will be available on the official Supercars website: https://www.supercars.com/.
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