RIP Tom, a man that will be be fondly remembered for bring us some great motor racing memories. Aside from his F1 interests, he brought us the TWR Volvos in the BTCC and dared to enter an estate, (loved that car) Brought the big cat, Jaguar's back into front line racing with great success and started the Holden Racing Team of which I am also very interested in as a V8 fan.
By Briar Gunther
1:33 PM Mon 13 December, 2010
Source: BigPond Sport
Toll Holden Racing Team (HRT) owner, Tom Walkinshaw, died overnight aged 64 following a long battle with cancer.
Walkinshaw Racing Managing Director, Craig Wilson, expressed his deepest sympathy on behalf of the whole team.
“As we all know, Tom was very passionate about motor racing and he achieved much success as a driver and team owner in his lifetime,” Wilson said.
“Those who know Tom know a tremendous competitor. But having worked for him for over 20 years I also know him as someone with amazing entrepreneurial spirit and someone with real insight into this business.
“He will be sadly missed, but we owe it to him to continue the success we have enjoyed under his watchful eye.”
Holden Chairman and Managing Director, Mike Devereux, also paid tribute to Walkinshaw.
"On behalf of the men and women at Holden, I'd like to extend our deepest sympathies to Tom's family, friends and co-workers across the world," he said.
"For more than 20 years Tom's pursuit of excellence helped forge our brand's reputation as a performance leader both on and off the track through the creation of Holden Special Vehicles and the Holden Racing Team.
"His contribution not only to Holden, but the automotive industry is legendary and will never be forgotten."
Walkinshaw was born in Scotland and before becoming a team owner he raced across the globe.
He was the 1969 Scottish FF1600 Champion and won his class driving a Ford Capri in the 1974 British Touring Car Championship.
He won the 1984 European Touring Car Championship in an XJS Jaguar and finished third in the 1985 Bathurst 1000 with Win Percy while John Goss and Armin Hahne won the race in another of his cars.
Walkinshaw founded HRT with General Motors Holden in 1988, at the same time establishing the high performance car company Holden Special Vehicles.
His involvement in local motorsport extends beyond the six-time Bathurst 1000 and six-time V8 Supercar Championship winning HRT.
He was instrumental in establishing Holden Young Lions earlier this decade, which then became K-Mart Racing and then the HSV Dealer Team.
In 2010 Walkinshaw Racing ran Toll Holden Racing Team and Bundaberg Red Racing.
Walkinshaw is survived by his wife Martine and sons Ryan and Sean
