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A profile of Tom Walkinshaw
The Arrows team was formed in 1977 and, almost twenty years later, they still had never tasted an F1 race win, let alone a World Championship. In 1996 the chances of that happening changed with the arrival of Tom Walkinshaw. An ex-racing driver and a shrewd businessman, Tom is sure to guide the team to eventual success. Here’s a quick look at him.
Tom Walkinshaw is Managing Director of TWR Group, which was established in 1976, and Chairman and Team Principal of the Arrows F1 Team. TWR’s business is the design, engineering and manufacturing of both road and racing cars. The TWR Group is known worldwide for it’s international motorsport successes, although it is confidential road car programmes that constitute the majority of TWR’s business.
Born in 1947, Tom began racing in 1968, pursuing a single-seater career which saw a progression from Formula Ford, through F3 and F2 to Formula 5000. Tom turned his attention to touring cars, having been a driver/engineer for Ford in 1973. In 1974 he became class winner in the British Saloon Car Championship, and in 1984 won the European Touring Car Championship. In between these accolades, Tom won a number of other series driving a wide range of cars - Ford Capris, Mazdas, BMWs, Rovers and Jaguars. In 1986 Tom retired from driving in order to concentrate on the Jaguar Sportscar programme, an undertaking that ran for the next six years.
After spells with Benetton and Ligier in Formula 1, Tom gained control of the Arrows team in 1996, at a time when they were running a Footwork chassis and a Brian Hart engine. Straight away Tom showed his skill in the world of negotiation, by arranging to pioneer the development of Bridgestone tyres for GP racing, and also by netting 1996 F1 World Champion, Damon Hill, as his principal driver for the 1997 season. With a works Yamaha engine deal, the team was stronger than ever and almost managed that elusive first victory at the Hungarian Grand Prix. Damon Hill led for the majority of the race, but hydraulic failure on the final laps demoted him to second place. 1999 saw the addition of Prince Malik Ibahim as the team’s Commercial Director, and the purchase of a 70% stake by Morgan Grenfell. Unfortunately the 1999 season was not the team’s best, and Tom wisely concentrated on building for the year 2000 season.
Tom’s business acumen led to the sponsorship deal of the year, with the signing of the Orange mobile phone network as title sponsor at the start of the 2000 season.
Despite all his business commitments, Tom manages to find time for his private interests, which include skiing and shooting. He is particularly enthusiastic about rugby, and in 1997 assumed control of the Gloucester Rugby Club.

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