O’Donnell Takes Director Role At Walkinshaw
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Walkinshaw TWG Racing has appointed Scott O’Donnell as a Director, following the purchase of shares in the Melbourne-based team by ODFI Ltd. The move adds another experienced figure to the team’s leadership while maintaining its current name and structure.
ODFI Ltd joins existing shareholders, the Walkinshaw Group led by Ryan Walkinshaw, and TWG Motorsports led by Dan Towriss. The addition strengthens the team’s ownership group as it continues to build for the future.
O’Donnell, originally from New Zealand, is also a Director of HW Richardson Group, a large organisation with 46 companies and around 2,000 employees across multiple industries, including road freight. His involvement in motorsport spans many years, both as a driver and as a supporter of emerging talent. He has played a role in the development of several New Zealand drivers, including Ryan Wood and Louis Sharp, and was appointed as a trustee of the MotorSport New Zealand Scholarship Trust in 2025.
He is already familiar with Walkinshaw TWG Racing through HW Richardson Group’s Allied Petroleum business, which distributes Mobil 1 Lubricants in New Zealand. O’Donnell recently attended the Australian Grand Prix alongside Walkinshaw and Towriss, and is expected to be present at upcoming events in New Zealand.
“It’s fantastic to be joining Walkinshaw TWG Racing, a place and a team I know very well.
“The opportunity came up late last year with United Autosports moving on, and it caught our interest once the team reached out. It was all pretty seamless from there really. Motorsport has always been a huge passion of mine, and while I hadn’t considered a role like this before, I am genuinely excited to be involved.
“There are so many positives around the team. There are two great drivers in Chaz and Ryan, the team has such a proud and successful history, and the new era with Toyota is fantastic.
“I’m really looking forward to working more closely with Ryan, Dan and the entire team. I’ve got great relationship with Bruce Stewart, and there is no shortage of Kiwis in the team. We will definitely be looking to make the most of the upcoming double-header and capitalise on that.”
Ryan Walkinshaw said O’Donnell’s appointment reflects the team’s focus on continuous improvement.
“I’ve known Scott for a very long time now, we’ve worked extremely well together in the past, he’s been a loyal and key supporter of the team, and we are now delighted to welcome him on board. He knows the team well, the people, how we operate, so he’s really hit the ground running.
“Everything we do here is about making our team better, and this is no different. Scott brings a wealth of knowledge, experience and passion to the team that will no doubt strengthen us this year and beyond, not just on the business side of operations, but with a key motorsport knowledge as well.”
Dan Towriss also welcomed the appointment, pointing to O’Donnell’s enthusiasm and fit with the team’s direction.
“It’s fantastic to have Scott join us as a Director of the team. From our first dealings with each other, it was clear he was the right person to bring in.
“He’s extremely passionate about the team, about the sport and about motorsport in general, so I’m excited to see where we can continue to take this team in the future.”Walkinshaw TWG Racing has welcomed Scott O’Donnell as a Director following ODFI Ltd’s purchase of shares in the Melbourne-based team. The ownership structure now includes ODFI Ltd alongside existing stakeholders, the Walkinshaw Group led by Ryan Walkinshaw, and TWG Motorsports led by Dan Towriss. Despite the change, the team’s name and entity remain unchanged.
O’Donnell, originally from New Zealand, is also a Director of HW Richardson Group, a large organisation that owns 46 companies and employs around 2000 people across six sectors, including road freight. His involvement in motorsport spans many years, combining hands-on driving experience with support for emerging talent. He has played a role in developing New Zealand drivers such as Ryan Wood and Louis Sharp, and in 2025 he was appointed a trustee of the MotorSport New Zealand Scholarship Trust.
He is already familiar with the team through HW Richardson Group’s Allied Petroleum business, which distributes Mobil 1 Lubricants in New Zealand. O’Donnell recently attended the Australian Grand Prix alongside Walkinshaw and Towriss, and is expected to be present at upcoming events in Taupo and Ruapuna.
Scott O’Donnell, Director, Walkinshaw TWG Racing
“It’s fantastic to be joining Walkinshaw TWG Racing, a place and a team I know very well.
“The opportunity came up late last year with United Autosports moving on, and it caught our interest once the team reached out. It was all pretty seamless from there really. Motorsport has always been a huge passion of mine, and while I hadn’t considered a role like this before, I am genuinely excited to be involved.
“There are so many positives around the team. There are two great drivers in Chaz and Ryan, the team has such a proud and successful history, and the new era with Toyota is fantastic.
“I’m really looking forward to working more closely with Ryan, Dan and the entire team. I’ve got great relationship with Bruce Stewart, and there is no shortage of Kiwis in the team. We will definitely be looking to make the most of the upcoming double-header and capitalise on that.”
Ryan Walkinshaw, Director, Walkinshaw TWG Racing
“I’ve known Scott for a very long time now, we’ve worked extremely well together in the past, he’s been a loyal and key supporter of the team, and we are now delighted to welcome him on board. He knows the team well, the people, how we operate, so he’s really hit the ground running.
“Everything we do here is about making our team better, and this is no different. Scott brings a wealth of knowledge, experience and passion to the team that will no doubt strengthen us this year and beyond, not just on the business side of operations, but with a key motorsport knowledge as well.”
Dan Towriss, Director, Walkinshaw TWG Racing
“It’s fantastic to have Scott join us as a Director of the team. From our first dealings with each other, it was clear he was the right person to bring in.
“He’s extremely passionate about the team, about the sport and about motorsport in general, so I’m excited to see where we can continue to take this team in the future.”