Walkinshaw TWG Racing's dominant 1-3 finish at The Bend was more than just a podium celebration. It was a resounding answer to the doubts that had plagued the reliability of their 2UR-GSE V8 engine. In a race where mechanical sympathy is tested to the limit, the new 'B-spec' upgrade proved its worth, giving the team a timely boost in the Supercars championship fight.
The Moment of Truth
The critical test came when Ryan Wood, sharing the car with Jaxon Evans, executed a double downshift into Turn 1. The mistake triggered a gearbox issue that sent engine revs soaring. With the old A-spec, such an incident would have almost certainly resulted in engine failure. But the B-spec, introduced at Ipswich, held firm. “We know that A-spec wouldn't have survived that, but B-spec has,” team principal Carl Faux told Speedcafe.
The breakthrough came after extensive collaboration between Walkinshaw and UK-based engine partner Swindon Powertrains. They developed a camshaft upgrade to address the valvetrain weakness that had been a persistent headache. The B-spec engines were fitted on the Thursday before the Ipswich event, and their performance has been closely monitored since.
Overcoming Queensland Concerns
Earlier, Chaz Mostert's engine failure in Queensland had raised alarm bells. However, Faux confirmed it was an unrelated bearing issue, not a B-spec problem. “We inspected all the B-specs on Saturday night and undertook NDT (non-destructive testing). We were happy they could continue,” he explained. Consequently, the four B-spec engines completed the entire race weekend at The Bend without major issues.
Brad Jones Racing chose to stick with the A-spec for Macauley Jones and Jordan Boys in South Australia. Walkinshaw respected that decision and focused on their own development. The successful run at The Bend means there are currently no plans for mid-weekend engine swaps at Bathurst.
Bathurst Beckons
Faux acknowledges that Bathurst will be the ultimate test. Last year, both of the team's Ford Mustangs were sidelined by engine trouble: Mostert stopped after dropping a cylinder, and Wood pitted with a failed crank sensor. “We had four engine failures across two cars when we were at Bathurst last time. If we do better than that this year, I'll be happy,” he said. Bathurst 1000 will also be Faux's final event with the team after a nine-year tenure.
With the momentum from The Bend, Walkinshaw TWG Racing hopes the B-spec will carry them to the finish line at Mount Panorama without drama. If it does, it will be a fitting farewell for Faux and a validation of their hard work.
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