TIM Edwards has been a Ford stalwart for 19 seasons but long-time rivals have welcomed his appointment as Supercars’ general manager of motorsport.
Edwards is in Adelaide for one last round at the helm of Tickford Racing before switching to working for the category itself, and confirmed he will head to the United States to oversee wind tunnel parity testing next month.
Erebus Motorsport CEO Barry Ryan has been an avid supporter of Edwards’ predecessor Adrian Burgess but revealed he’d been quietly pushing for the ex-Jordan Formula 1 team manager to get the gig (vacated as Burgess controversially heads to Team 18).
“I’m 100 percent for it. I’m a big supporter of Tim’s and what he has done and what he has achieved and the way he goes about things,” said Ryan.
“He’s a bit different to Adrian but I have been pushing for him actually in the background, to try to make sure it happens.
“I can’t wait to work with him for the sport… to make sure the sport survives and make sure his knowledge is imparted to make sure the category is the place it wants to be and can be.”
Tickford and Triple Eight have long been on-track enemies but that did not stop the General Motors homologation squad from voicing support for Edwards.
“I actually don’t know Tim that well to be fair, so we’re going in with open eyes and we hope that someone so fresh from team land and also the wealth of experience, hopefully he can bring in some good change… and not go native too quickly,” said Triple Eight team manager Mark Dutton.
Edwards, who maintains that he’d been preparing to spend 2024 caravanning around Australia with wife Trudie, acknowledged that a new series of dynamics await him.
“It will be interesting just walking into everybody’s garage in my white shirt, looking at what they do and how they operate,” he said.
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“It will be a very strange position because in my 36 years of motorsport, 37 or whatever it is, that’s not something I have ever done.
“It’s going to be different, looking at it from the other side like I will be, but I’m looking forward to it.
“Knowing all of the characters and knowing how to handle people, like this bloke (Barry Ryan), will probably work in my favour.”
Edwards also praised Burgess for the support he’s already shown.
“I had a great conversation with Adrian, he rang me the other night and he has actually offered his full support,” he said.
“There’s a lot I have got to learn now, I’m walking into a role where there’s a lot going on at the moment with the aero testing and engine work, and 95 percent of that I’m not privy to – none of the teams are.
“So there’s a lot of learning but Adrian has been very forthcoming and helping me as much as he can.
“For all of his critics, he does love the sport and he doesn’t want to drop me in the shit, which wouldn’t be good for any of us.”
This weekend’s VAILO Adelaide 500 is the final round of the 2023 Repco Supercars Championship, after which a rigorous off-season parity testing program will begin.
