Mark Winterbottom and Tickford Racing will reunite in 2025, with the recently retired full-time Supercars driver returning to his old squad as a endurance co-driver.
The former Supercars champion and Bathurst 1000 winner will partner Cam Waters in one of the team’s Ford Mustangs at The Bend 500 and Bathurst 1000 next year, leaving long-time Waters co-driver James Moffat to move across into the team’s other entry, to join Thomas Randle.
The 43-year-old veteran driver will also take on a mentor’s role, to work alongside the team’s three-car Super2 squad. Winterbottom was a product of Ford’s own development series, having first worked with the brand as a young kart racer more than 20 years ago.
“I’m so excited to come back home to Tickford Racing. This team played such a massive part in my career," said Winterbottom.
Winterbottom joined the team, then known as Ford Performance Racing, in 2006, and stayed there until the end of the 2017, when he moved to the Team 18 squad. With Tickford and associated teams, he won the 2013 Bathurst 1000, the 2015 Supercars title and a total of 38 races in 645 career starts.
"Tickford feels like family. So many of the same people are still here, and the fans’ support has been overwhelming — Bathurst really hit home when people kept saying, ‘Go back to Tickford'," he added.
"It’s a privilege to return to such a competitive team with two great opportunities ahead: to win with Cam in the enduros and to help shape the future of this sport. Cam’s one of the best drivers in the field.
“I’ll support him 100% — if he wins, we win. That’s what it’s all about. I’m excited to complement his raw speed with my experience and help Tickford fight for the top step of the podium."
Winterbottom announced his retirement from full-time Supercars competition in October, after losing his Team 18 drive to Anton de Pasquale and failing to secure another permanent drive.
Winterbottom finished what was his final season as a full-time Supercars driver sitting 15th in the championship standings driving for Team 18. His campaign included second place finishes at Melbourne's Albert Park and Darwin's Hidden Valley Raceway.
