In 1996, Tom Walkinshaw acquired a controlling stake in the Footwork Formula One team, rebranding it as Arrows. The project ultimately struggled for success, recording no poles or race wins before the team folded in 2002.
50 Years of Tom Walkinshaw Racing (TWR)
An Automotive & Motorsport Icon
Feb 18, 2026
Founded in 1976 in England, Tom Walkinshaw Racing (TWR) celebrates 50 years this year as one of motorsport’s great powerhouses. More than just a racing team, TWR was also an engineering force, responsible for design classics like the Aston Martin DB7, Jaguar XJ220, and Australia’s own VL SS Group A Walkinshaw (aka "Plastic Pig") and VR HSV Clubsport and Senator.
From touring cars and endurance racing to Formula 1 and sports cars, TWR’s influence has been global. In Australia, Tom Walkinshaw helped shape a golden era for the Holden Racing Team.
TWR closed in 2002 with Tom sadly passing away in 2010, the Walkinshaw legacy continues through Tom’s son, Ryan, who now runs Walkinshaw TWG Racing among many other automative ventures.
That legacy lives on in diecast form too. Below are some of the most significant TWR-related diecast models ever produced. Click on the description of each to learn more.
The Le Mans Winners
The Bathurst Winners
.png)
Ok, so it’s not a Bathurst winner — but it was the 1985 pole sitter and 3rd place finisher at the Great Race, steered by Tom himself, hence its inclusion.
Touring Cars
Rover Vitesse
1985 Donington 500 Winner
Walkinshaw / Percy
107851301 - Minichamps
Volvo 850
Rickard Rydell
The Formula 1 Cars
Interesting Fact #1
Interesting Fact #1
Did you know Tom Walkinshaw was Engineering Director at Benetton F1 in 1994, the year Michael Schumacher claimed his first World Drivers’ Championship?
Interesting Fact #2
Did you know that TWR played a key role in the development of the epic Nissan R390 GT1 sports car?
R390 GT1 Test Car (89778)Designed by Ian Callum who also designed the aforementioned DB7, XJ220 and VS HSVs, the project drew heavily on TWR’s Jaguar expertise. Tony Southgate, designer of the Le Mans-winning Jaguar XJR-9, led the mechanical and aerodynamic design, and the car shared clear lineage with TWR’s Jaguar XJR-15. In fact, the cockpit — including the tub, greenhouse and roofline — was taken directly from the XJR-15 tooling, itself derived from the XJR-9.
Jaguar XJR-15Interesting Fact #3
Did you know the 3.5-litre twin-turbo Nissan VRH35L V8 that powered the 1997–98 R390 GT1 would go on to play a starring role in modern McLaren road cars after the R390 program ended? McLaren obtained the engine design from Tom Walkinshaw Racing and evolved it into its own 3.8-litre (M838T), later used in the MP4-12C, 650S and P1.
