United Autosports will exit its Supercars joint venture to focus on its other commitments, including McLaren’s factory Hypercar programme in the World Endurance Championship from 2027.

As per the agreement, Walkinshaw Group and Andretti’s parent company TWG Global will consolidate their ownership and acquire United’s existing shareholding in the outfit.

The change will come into effect on 3 February and will see the team rebrand as Walkinshaw TWG Racing. 

With this announcement, Supercars becomes the second category United will leave in 2026, having also handed over the running of McLaren’s LMGT3 effort to Garage 59.

Most of the Anglo-American team’s resources next year will be directed towards the development of McLaren’s new LMDh prototype, which will debut in the WEC’s top category in 2027.

“It was an incredibly difficult decision to step away from Walkinshaw Andretti United, one that we didn’t take lightly. But with our WEC program and other racing  commitments growing rapidly, the time was right to put our complete focus and energy into that,” said United co-owner Zak Brown. 

“Personally, I have loved every moment with the entire team, with the drivers, and being involved in Supercars. To win the championship in our final event together seems like the perfect ending, but also, the Bathurst 10000 win is something that I will never forget.

“The sport itself is in great shape, it’s no-doubt one of the best racing categories in the world. I want to thank the team for not only welcoming us in 2018, but for all the hard work and dedication since.”

Ryan Walkinshaw from Walkinshaw Andretti United and Zak Brown

Photo by: Edge Photographics

Walkinshaw Andretti United was formed in 2018 when United Autosports and Andretti Autosport joined forces with Ryan Walkinshaw in the erstwhile factory Holden squad. Andretti and Walkinshaw each took a 37.5% stake in the rejigged organisation, with United acquiring the remaining 25%.

During its eight-year stint in Australia’s biggest championship, WAU achieved plenty of success against stern opposition from Dick Johnson Racing and Triple Eight Racing, scoring 17 victories in total – including at the Bathurst 1000 in 2021.

It added another milestone this year when Chaz Mostert snatched the drivers’ title from Triple Eight duo Will Brown and Broc Feeney under Supercars’ new Finals system in Adelaide.

Walkinshaw TWG stressed there will be no changes to its day-to-day operations and staffing levels following United’s departure.

The Melbourne-based squad will continue its preparations for 2026 as it leaves Ford’s stable to become Toyota’s homologation partner.

“United Autosports, and more specifically, Zak Brown and Richard Dean, have been nothing but fantastic to work with since 2018. While we are all sad to see them go, we completely respect their decision,” said Ryan Walkinshaw. 

“We’ve shared in some fantastic moments together, none bigger than the championship in Adelaide a few weeks ago, or winning Bathurst in 2021, and personally, I’ve really enjoyed working alongside them. It started as an idea to bring Andretti Autosport into the fold, and it wasn’t long before Zak was making sure he didn’t miss out!”

TWG Motorsports CEO Dan Towriss added: “We’re thankful for everything United Autosports has contributed to this team since 2018 and for the success we shared along the way. Their role in building where we are  today will always be an important part of our story, and we thank the entire  organisation, as well as Zak and Richard.”

The 2026 Supercars season will begin at Sydney Motorsport Park on 20-22 February. Walkinshaw TWG will enter a pair of new Toyota GR Supra cars next year for newly-crowned champion Mostert and one-time race winner Ryan Wood. 

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The Bobby Rahal-led motorsport park in Florida called North Florida Motorsports Park (NFMP), a planned 600-acre premier automotive lifestyle destination in Nassau County, near the Georgia border and minutes from Amelia Island has been announced.

Announced on December 9, 2025, this groundbreaking project features a world-class private racetrack designed by Bobby Rahal himself (the 1986 Indianapolis 500 winner, three-time IndyCar champion, and International Motorsports Hall of Fame inductee), who serves as a key partner and leader in the vision. Additional amenities include:

– Luxury trackside condominiums
– Exclusive garage facilities
– A members-only club
– A public karting track
– On-site villas
– Sporting grounds

The development draws operational expertise from Atlanta Motorsports Park and aims to blend high-performance driving with refined community living for automotive enthusiasts.

A Vision Realized: The Birth of North Florida Motorsports Park

In the humid embrace of Nassau County’s untouched woodlands, just west of Interstate 95 and a stone’s throw from the Florida Welcome Center, a legend was quietly plotting his next victory lap. Bobby Rahal, the man who tamed the Brickyard in 1986 and built an empire on speed and precision, had long dreamed of creating something more than just a racetrack—a sanctuary where the roar of engines harmonized with the rhythm of life.

It started with a conversation. Partners from NF Sports Development and M2 Real Estate Advisors approached him, maps in hand, pointing to 600 acres of prime Florida land. “This region has an incredible automotive culture,” Bobby said, his eyes lighting up as he traced potential lines on the blueprint. “We’re not just building a track. We’re building a community.”

Drawing from decades at the pinnacle of motorsports—as a driver, team owner, and visionary—Rahal took the lead. He collaborated with world-leading architects to design a professional racing circuit that promised adrenaline-pumping challenges: sweeping curves, demanding elevations, and straights built for pure velocity. Safety and performance would be paramount, a testament to the lessons learned from Indy, Sebring, and beyond.

As news broke in December 2025, excitement rippled through the automotive world. Trackside condominiums rose in renderings, offering panoramic views of the action. Exclusive garages awaited priceless collections. A private membership club promised elite access, while a public karting facility invited families and newcomers to taste the thrill. Villas, sporting grounds, and even waterside amenities completed the vision—a lifestyle destination honoring the heritage of the motorcar.

Bobby stood on the site one crisp morning, wind whispering through the pines that would soon give way to asphalt. “This is for the enthusiasts,” he reflected. “The ones who live for that perfect apex, that symphony of horsepower. North Florida Motorsports Park isn’t the end of the road—it’s the starting grid for countless stories yet to be written.”

And as the first stakes were driven into the earth, the Sunshine State welcomed a new era of speed, luxury, and passion—one led by a true racing icon.

NHRA has welcomed Kuhnle Motorsports Park to the NHRA Member Track Network as part of the NHRA’s North Central Division (Division 3).

Originally opened in 1958, the historic quarter-mile facility has been a staple in Northeast Ohio motorsports for more than six decades. Known by many longtime racers as one of the region’s most tradition-rich dragstrips, Kuhnle Motorsports Park continues to evolve while staying true to its grassroots racing foundation.

The track was purchased in 2021 by brothers Tom and Kim Kuhnle. The Kuhnle family invested heavily in revitalizing the venue and expanding its offerings. Today, Kuhnle Motorsports Park hosts a wide variety of events, from nostalgia gasser races to the fan-favorite heavy-duty semi-truck racing, which has become one of the facility’s signature attractions.

“NHRA offers valuable benefits to racers as well as race programs that are exciting for both participants and spectators. This makes them a great fit for our commitment to our racing community and our vision for the future,” said Tom Kuhnle.

“When I got my driver’s license at 16, Thompson Drag Raceway, now Kuhnle Motorsports Park, was one of the first places I would go,” added Kim Kuhnle. “I loved to watch drag racing for hours with a big group of friends. Like so many others who have grown up in this area, a lot of my fondest memories were made at the track.

“Fast forward 40-plus years later, and the tables have turned. I am now an owner of Kuhnle Motorsports Park. There are many moving parts involved with hosting events, and it is my goal to continue creating a place for all to enjoy.”

As part of the NHRA Member Track Network, Kuhnle Motorsports Park will also have access to NHRA’s extensive and robust support programs, insurance benefits, and national marketing platforms. With this new partnership, the facility will play a key role in promoting grassroots NHRA Drag Racing and fostering a strong community of racers and fans in the area.

“The NHRA North Central Division is proud to work alongside Kuhnle Motorsports Park as they continue building on their impressive progress,” said William Tharp, NHRA North Central Division Director. “Under Tom Kuhnle’s leadership and with the strong support of his family and friends, the facility has made tremendous strides in a short time. Their vision and commitment to the sport are clear, and we look forward to seeing that dedication grow within the North Central Division. With opportunities that many tracks can only dream of, Kuhnle Motorsports Park is poised to capitalize in a big way.”

For more information on Kuhnle Motorsports Park, visit https://www.kuhnlemotorsports.com/. 

VIRginia International Raceway announced today that it has officially acquired full ownership of the land that the historic circuit operates on, an acquisition the road course’s management states will allow for new growth and development opportunities in the future.

“I am immensely pleased to tell all of our dedicated fans, renters, teams, sanctioning bodies, tenants, employees, community stakeholders – everyone – that we recently closed on the purchase of all of the land underlying VIR,” track CEO and co-owner Connie Nyholm said. “VIR can now live on in perpetuity.”

Since the circuit re-opened in March 2000, VIR had operated under a 100-year land lease with the Foote family in Southern Virginia. Though the lease allowed the facility to flourish into an internationally recognized motorsports venue after its rebirth, it often limited the scope for long-term planning and expansion.

But via an amicable transfer of ownership assisted by financial partner Carter Bank & Trust, VIR says it has not only secured its long-term future but will unlock more avenues for strategic development and collaboration across the world of motorsport.

“In 2020, Mark and Tara Rein bought in to VIR as my 50/50 partner and, because we were aligned in our priorities for growth, we were able to plan more aggressively with President and COO of VIR Kerrigan Smith and our amazing team,” Nyholm said. “In the past five years, VIR has invested heavily in track improvements, including miles of guardrail and catch fencing, increased capacity on pit lane and in the paddock for teams and new viewing and camping areas for fans, and made modern renovations to all on-site lodging and common areas throughout the facility. Twelve additional villas were completed this year.

“The more we planned to invest, the more limiting the land lease became. Now that everything is really ours, we are excited to chart VIR’s future and build relationships that will make our already ambitious goals grow bigger sooner.

“As my business partner, Mark, says, ‘I’d rather have things right than right now.’ Our team spends a lot of time exploring new ideas and planning what’s right for VIR’s next 25 years, whether that’s facilities, activities, and or operations, and our list is continually growing. As I always say, “Come back, come often, and bring your friends!” so you can experience our evolution first hand.”

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The landmark settlement that ended the antitrust lawsuit filed by 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports against NASCAR saw the league make several notable concessions beyond just granting teams “evergreen” charters, comparable to a franchise in most professional sports leagues, multiple team sources familiar with the settlement terms have told The Athletic.

In addition to all 15 charter-holding teams having their charters become permanent instead of expiring at a set end date, the settlement terms include teams receiving a say in governance and a greater percentage of various NASCAR revenue streams.

The combined gains are considered a massive win by 23XI and Front Row that will benefit every Cup Series organization, as the teams achieved many of the goals they laid out when the most recent charter negotiations began more than two years ago.

The exact terms of the revised charter agreement are still being sorted out, but the pending revisions were outlined with the charter-holding teams in a meeting Thursday afternoon, sources said.

These changes follow NASCAR and 23XI/Front Row submitting their settlement terms Thursday morning to Kenneth D. Bell, the presiding judge in the lawsuit filed last October by the two teams. Bell agreed, ending the contentious lawsuit that has roiled the sport for the past 14 months.

Under the previous charter agreement, which expired at the end of the 2024 NASCAR season, teams could issue a “strike” whenever NASCAR instituted a rules change they didn’t like. Over the span of the agreement, first enacted in 2016, any team that issued three strikes then had the ability to race in a competing series without punishment.

At the behest of NASCAR, and to the dismay of the teams, the “three-strike rule” was removed from the 2025 charter agreement. That rule will now be reinserted, those sources say, though expanded to five strikes.

Teams also will receive an unknown percentage of NASCAR’s international media rights deals, of which they previously received zero, and a one-third portion of new business deals involving teams’ intellectual property.

In addition to the gains 23XI and Front Row achieved for every team, both organizations will have their combined six charters returned to them. They lost the charters, valued at as much as $300 million total based on recent sales (the last charter sale was for $45 million), during the ongoing litigation. Ownership of one of the 36 available charters provides certain financial guarantees and entry into every race in the sport’s premier Cup Series.

NASCAR also agreed to pay monetary damages to 23XI and Front Row, according to sources, though the exact figure is unknown.