Mark Winterbottom apologises to Tickford Racing after describing the team as a “toxic environment”

Mark Winterbottom has personally apologised to Tickford Racing after reports he had slammed the environment as ‘toxic and poorly run’ started doing the rounds.

Mark Winterbottom called Tickford boss Tim Edwards to apologise

Mark Winterbottom has personally apologised to Tickford Racing after describing the team where he won a drivers’ championship and Bathurst 1000 as a “toxic environment”.

The 2015 Supercars champion said in a podcast that the situation at Tickford had begun to “aggravate” him when talking about his move from Tickford to Charlie Schwerkolt Racing at the end of last season.

The Daily Telegraph can reveal Winterbottom called Tickford boss Tim Edwards to apologise.

“I don’t have to defend our culture or respond to the claim because Mark has already called me to apologise,’’ Edwards said.

“He is quite upset about what has appeared in the press and has ensured me that he did not mean what has been put out there. I am quite happy with what he told me and as far as I am concerned we are still on good terms.’’

Red Bull breaks Ford Mustang’s stranglehold to claim first win of season

Supercars: Mark Winterbottom happy with switch to minnow

V8 Supercars Phillip Island 2019: Mark Winterbottom brands former team Tickford ‘toxic environment’ to work in

Mark Winterbottom called Tickford boss Tim Edwards to apologise

Winterbottom had earlier hinted he made the shock move from the Ford-backed Tickford to the Holden minnow because his former team was poorly run.

“Because even if I was winning at Tickford, there were things I needed to change anyway,’’ Winterbottom told a Fox Sports podcast.

“To have a team with four cars where kind of everyone going against each other was a bit of a toxic environment and I was a bit over that, 13 years of it.

“When it’s run properly and controlled it’s OK, but there were just a few things that were starting to aggravate me a bit.

“So to go to a team where you hop out of the car, your team manager (Steve Henderson), Charlie, Phil, Stu (engineer Stuart McDonald), all these guys are looking at you, listening to every word you say and just got your back.’’

Edwards said he did not have to respond to Winterbottom’s claims after receiving the personal apology.

“He said that it wasn’t what he meant so I’ll take him at his word,’’ Edwards said.

Winterbottom was said to have been quite upset by some reports written about him

“I think he made his public peace with us during an interview in Tasmania. He spoke very highly off us in that interview and he is quite upset with what came out today.’’

Lee Holdsworth replaced Winterbottom in a direct swap between Tickford Racing and Charlie Schwerkolt Racing at the end of last year.

“Everything is going great here at the moment,’’ Edwards said.

“We are all good and all happy. We are getting on with business and happy to stay out of the lime-light for now.

“Lee has been very good. He has come into a team and had to learn a new car and a new philosophy. He has had to adapt his car to a different driving style and he is starting to find his feet.

“He was actually our highest place finisher in the last race.’’

Tickford will be out to win their second race of the season when the Phillip Island round of the championship begins with practice today.

Originally published as Mark Winterbottom apologises to Tickford Racing after describing the team as a “toxic environment”