When you saw the TWR badge on a car you knew it was going to be one to watch. Tom Walkinshaw Racing was an incredible force both on and off the racetrack. A global outfit, you knew that when TWR was involved, you were going to be treated to one hell of a show.
TWR was born out of a desire to go faster, be better, and to win. After its founder, Tom Walkinshaw, discovered his talent behind the wheel in the late 1960s, he didn’t simply want to compete… he had to. After a big break with Ford on track, Walkinshaw formed TWR to run, develop, build, and race cars for manufacturers all over the world.
As well as being the man behind the development of world-beating race cars, Walkinshaw was often behind the wheel of them – putting in legendary laps that left race fans all over the world aghast time and time again. From Touring Cars, to Endurance, to Rally, and beyond, TWR’s knowhow ensured an incredible performance that put a fair few established noses out of joint.
The track wasn’t TWR’s only domain. It was involved in some of the most notable road cars of all time. The Jaguar XJR-15, and XJ220 owe their existence to the company. As does the Aston Martin DB7, Holden’s Special Vehicles operation, the legendary Renault Clio V6 and some we can’t talk about but you definitely know.
How did TWR leave such a mark? Its people. Tom Walkinshaw’s work ethic was legendary, and he expected the same from the people he brought with him. The right team behind a car makes all the difference. Whether it’s a hatchback, supercar, BTCC racer, or even a Le Mans competitor, the people behind it make it what it is.
Everything TWR created was done so with an eye to push boundaries as far as it could go, to find an edge, and it did it with style. It would put cars, and drivers where others couldn’t. Everything that could be done, would be done to ensure that what was made was perfect. There was never a moment wasted in the pursuit of brilliance. A TWR car came with the perfect blend of power, handling, and dynamics that let the world know it wasn’t to be messed with.
