United Autosports Ends Supercars Bid to Focus on McLaren Hypercar

United Autosports will exit Supercars to prioritise McLaren’s Hypercar project targeting a 2027 WEC entry. Walkinshaw Group and TWG Global take control on 3 February 2026, becoming Walkinshaw TWG Racing.

United has already wound down programme elements, handing McLaren’s LMGT3 management to Garage 59 during 2026. Resources now pivot to developing the LMDh prototype ahead of testing and homologation.

Daily operations remain stable, the Melbourne base preparing for 2026 while switching from Ford to Toyota as homologation partner.

Two Toyota GR Supras will contest 2026. Chaz Mostert, the 2025 champion, partners Ryan Wood, offering continuity of driving strength despite a manufacturer and technical reset.

The modern operation dates to 2018, when United Autosports and Andretti Autosport joined Ryan Walkinshaw’s factory Holden team. Ownership stood at 37.5% each for Andretti and Walkinshaw, 25% for United.

On-track returns match that structure’s ambition: 17 Supercars victories, headlined by the 2021 Bathurst 1000 win, set a benchmark the rebranded outfit intends to preserve.

Zak Brown calls the decision difficult, citing the championship and Bathurst triumphs as defining moments with the team. The move aligns United’s priorities with McLaren’s top-class programme timeline.

Ryan Walkinshaw thanks Zak Brown and Richard Dean for their partnership since 2018. He stresses continuity through the transition and confidence in the team’s competitive direction.

TWG Motorsports CEO Dan Towriss echoes that view, crediting United’s contribution to building a consistent frontrunner. He says their impact remains embedded in the organisation’s story.

The 2026 season begins at Sydney Motorsport Park on 20–22 February. The rebrand lands 17 days earlier, dovetailing with Toyota’s arrival and the engineering overhaul.

For United, 2026 centres on McLaren LMDh development, testing, and integration with WEC regulations. The objective is a cleaner 2027 debut with validated performance and reliability.

For Supercars, the combination of manufacturer switch and stable leadership offers a fresh competitive baseline. Retaining Mostert provides a proven reference for Toyota’s first-season learning curve.

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James William

James William covers the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, from the Rolex 24 at Daytona to sprint-race formats. His reports include prototype performance reviews, GT class battles, and pit-stop strategy insights for endurance-racing fans.