Jaguar set to get back on track

JAGUAR is on the verge of making a shock return to Australian Racing with the British racing royal negotiating to put a V8-F Type on the Supercars grid in 2023.

In a shock move given Kia and Toyota were considered the most likely manufacturers to join Ford and General Motors in the future, the famous British manufacturer is set to reunite with Walkinshaw Andretti United (WAU) – the current-day version of the racing team that took them to Bathurst 1000 glory in 1985.

It has been revealed Jaguar has already committed to a handshake deal with WAU and would have already made their intent to reconquer Australia official had it not been for the Covid outbreak.

While the international crisis stalled the deal, sources close to the team claim Jaguar is ready to recommit following the successful unveiling of the Gen 3 Supercars program at Mount Panorama on Friday.

The revelation means the Ford Mustang and Chevrolet Camaro could be racing a F-Type Jaguar in a move that would turn an all-American fight into a global race war.

It will come as no surprise WAU will be the team to snare Jaguar given Tom Walkinshaw won the British giant a Bathurst 1000 title in 1985.

Walkinshaw almost single-handedly made Jaguar a touring car force in the 1980s after he took the V12 X-JS from the street and turned it into a race-conquering touring car.

Now running WAU, Tom’s son Ryan could follow in his father’s footsteps by turning the V8 Jaguar F-Type into an Australian Supercar.

Now driving the soon-to-be redundant Holden Commodore, Ryan would not comment on Jaguar.

“We have always been honest and open that we are looking at our options,” Ryan said.

“We haven’t committed to the Camaro, even though it looks like an exciting product. We have made no commitment to GM or Ford.”

A $300,000-plus car, a road going F-Type already produces as much power as a V8 Supercar.