Garth Walden is set for a role change this season as the team boss dusts off his helmet for a 2016 Porsche Carrera Cup Australia campaign.
An accomplished racer, Walden has run his own race team, GWR Australia, in the Porsche championship for the past two seasons, fielding TAG Heuer Carrera Challenge driver, Ash Samadi.
Having strong experience in Carrera Cup from behind the pit wall, when asked to pilot the Commercial Interior Projects entry, Walden decided to make the switch to full-time driver for the upcoming Porsche season.
“The time was right to get back into a race car full time, and Carrera Cup was the perfect category in which to do so,” said Walden.
“Having been around the Porsche paddock for some time, I know the championship and the cars well, so that brings an added benefit as a championship rookie. This knowledge also made the decision to join the championship very easy when the opportunity presented itself.”
Walden has vast racing experience, including seven Bathurst 12 Hour starts and a full season in the V8 Supercars Championship in 2004 in addition to a range of race categories both in Australia and internationally; most notably the World Time Attack Challenge, in which he has been champion for the past three years.
“I’ve had a limited racing programme over the past few years so, for me, the priority is to get as much time behind the wheel of the Porsche as possible to get up to speed.
“I’d like to thank all that made this possible – Rob & Astrid Woods for their commitment and having faith in me as a driver; Commercial Interior Projects and all our sponsors for the car; as well as the boys and my partner Myriam at team GWR. I can’t wait to get the season under way at the Clipsal 500. It’s going to be a great year.”