TWR, a legendary name in the world of performance and engineering, is poised to embark on a new venture as a bespoke automobile manufacturer. With an unwavering commitment to preserving the same spirit and dedication that forged the legacy of the original Tom Walkinshaw Racing (TWR), this new company aspires to capture the essence that made TWR an icon.
The brainchild of Tom Walkinshaw, the original TWR emerged in 1975, etching its mark in the realms of racing and performance cars. Over nearly three decades, it became the birthplace of some of the most iconic and successful machines of performance engineering.
Tom Walkinshaw played a pivotal role in kindling motorsport passions within leading automakers. TWR’s touring car lineup boasted legends like the Rover Vitesse, Holden Commodore, Mazda RX-7, and the cult classic Volvo 850 Estate. And let’s not forget the ventures into road cars. The Aston Martin DB7 and Renault Clio V6 owe their existence to Tom Walkinshaw’s groundbreaking work and powers of persuasion.
Jaguar, in particular, enjoyed a fruitful partnership with Walkinshaw, notably co-producing the infamous XJS, which triumphed in the 1984 European Touring Car Championship and 1985 Bathurst 1000. The crowning glory of their collaboration came in the form of the awe-inspiring Le Mans-winning Jaguar XJR Group C prototypes, with their genetic blueprint laying the foundation for what would arguably become the ultimate Jaguar production cars, the XJ220 and XJR-15, with TWR’s strong involvement.
Now, the iconic TWR name is poised for a revival, bringing with it the same pioneering spirit and pursuit of excellence that catapulted the original company to international acclaim.
Guided by Tom Walkinshaw’s son, Fergus Walkinshaw, the new TWR generation has already assembled a team of highly skilled technical experts. In the spirit of the original company, TWR’s mission is to establish itself as a premier manufacturer of tailor-made, high-performance automobiles, designed to push the boundaries of performance engineering. Collaborating with top-tier brands, TWR aims to maximise the potential of their products.
In an era where numerous modern performance vehicles are governed by electronic systems, TWR is on a quest to preserve and perfect the analog driving experience. By harmoniously blending cutting-edge materials and innovative design concepts with traditional engineering practices, TWR is committed to crafting vehicles that offer an ideal fusion of performance, style, functionality, and quality.
Fergus Walkinshaw, the founder of TWR, expressed, “It fills me with immense pride to see the TWR name carry forward into a new era. High-performance engineering is an inherent part of the Walkinshaw family’s heritage. Since the closure of the original TWR, I have yearned to find a way to continue the family legacy. Through this new incarnation of TWR, we can not only celebrate the legacy and tradition of the original TWR but also venture further into uncharted territory.
“This new iteration of TWR is, first and foremost, an engineering company that builds cars, rather than an automaker that dabbles in engineering. This is an important distinction. We will harness cutting-edge technology, combining fresh expertise with traditional craftsmanship to create world-class products that epitomize the essence of this new TWR. We aspire to produce incredibly impressive and innovative vehicles, unburdened by the constraints of industry rulebooks and OEM styling dictates.
We’ve scoured the realms of performance and motorsport engineering to assemble a remarkably talented technical team, which even includes members from the original TWR, further enriching our wealth of knowledge and expertise. It’s from this foundation that TWR sets its sights on a promising and radiant future.”
It’s an exciting time, especially seeing what TWR can cook up!