Supercars 2023: Supercars head of motorsport Adrian Burgess’s move to Team 18 lashed by rivals

Rival team bosses have lashed departing Supercars head of motorsport Adrian Burgess’ imminent move to Team 18, describing it as a “crazy situation” which should not be allowed.

Rival team bosses have lashed departing Supercars head of motorsport Adrian Burgess’ imminent move to Team 18, describing it as a “crazy situation” which should not be allowed.

Team 18 confirmed on Thursday Burgess would join the Camaro squad as its new team principal from the start of February next year.

Supercars announced last week Burgess was leaving his role as the category’s head of motorsport, which he has held for the past five years, in early 2024.

Outgoing Tickford Racing boss Tim Edwards was named as his replacement this week.

But Burgess’ impending move to Team 18 has raised the ire of rivals given the access to data he has had from all teams in pit lane as the head of motorsport.

Burgess is not attending this weekend’s season-ending Adelaide 500, with motorsport operations manager Paul Martin stepping into his role for the round.

Triple Eight team manager Mark Dutton voiced his exception to the impending move of Burgess back to team land when asked if he should be allowed to join Team 18 straight away following his departure from Supercars.

“No, he shouldn’t be. It’s really, really that simple,” Dutton told reporters on Thursday.

“You’re meant to have a non-compete (clause) at this level …. not having a non-compete for someone in that position with that much exposure is a mistake.”

Erebus Motorsport chief executive Barry Ryan, whose squad is aiming to wrap up the drivers’ and teams’ championship in Adelaide, also hit out.

“I echo Mark’s thoughts. It’s a crazy situation that someone can have all that knowledge and not have some sort of restriction on them,” Ryan said.

“Every other sport in the world, there’s no way it would have been allowed to happen. It’s something Supercars has to look at and fix, I think. That’s just my opinion.”

Adrian Burgess during his time with Holden. Picture: Mark Brake

Burgess was due to attend the category’s end of season wind tunnel testing in the United States in December as Supercars looks to get to the bottom of the parity saga which has plagued the start of the new Gen3 era this year.

Edwards confirmed on Thursday he would attend the testing in the US, while Burgess is tipped to stay in Australia to finalise his handover, although Supercars is yet to confirm his plans.

Dutton suggested Supercars needed to consider paying people in such roles a period of “gardening leave”.

“I don’t know the ins and outs of what contracts he’s signed etc, but it’s something that a category of Supercars’ level that you have to pay upfront,” Dutton said.

“No one likes paying gardening leave because it seems like it’s dead money, but that’s an investment that you have to do in those roles.

“I believe when you hire the person, you’ve got to be prepared that that’s an expense on the way out, to protect other teams, and keep the integrity of the sport at the level it should be.

“So whether something should be done about it now, that’s not for me to say, that’s more of a legal matter.

Edwards said Burgess had offered him his full support as he takes on his new role as the category’s general manager of motorsport.

“Adrian rang me the other night and has offered me his full support … he has been very forthcoming that he will help me as much as he can,” Edwards said.

“For all his critics, he does love the sport and he doesn’t want to drop me in the shit, which wouldn’t be good for any of us.

“It’s an interesting one. It’s not happened before, someone from Supercars crossing the divide with so much information and it’s probably more relevant now than it’s ever been.

“But anyway, he signed an employment contract many years ago, way before Gen3.”

MAJOR SUPERCARS SHAKE-UP AS BOSS EXITS

Outgoing Tickford Racing boss Tim Edwards has been appointed Supercars’ new general manager of motorsport.

Edwards will succeed Adrian Burgess, who will depart his role as Supercars’ head of motorsport early next year.

Outgoing Tickford Racing boss Tim Edwards is set to join Supercars in a key role.

Responsible for overseeing Supercars’ motorsport division, Edwards will start his new role in January.

Tickford announced in September that its long-time chief executive and team principal would be leaving the Ford squad at the end of this year’s Supercars campaign.

But Edwards will now launch into leading the series’ motorsport program after 19 years at the helm of the Blue Oval outfit

Supercars confirmed last week Burgess was leaving the series after five years as head of motorsport, overseeing the sport’s transition to the new Gen3 era.

Burgess is also expected to remain involved in the category in a team management role with Camaro squad Team 18.

Edwards will take charge in his last round for Tickford at the Adelaide 500 this weekend.

The longtime Ford boss joined the team in 2005 and oversaw Bathurst 1000 wins in 2013 (Mark Winterbottom/Steve Richards) and 2014 (Chaz Mostert/Paul Morris), and a drivers’ championship in 2015 (Winterbottom).

“Joining Supercars is a fantastic opportunity which I am delighted and privileged to accept,” Edwards said.

“Virtually my entire adult life has been spent in motorsport, I’ve had the fortune to work and compete with some of the best organisations and at the greatest events and championships there are, and to step into this role with Supercars is very exciting.

“After 35 years working in what we call ‘team land’, I look forward to doing my part from the category side to help us put on the best championship we possibly can.”

Outgoing Supercars boss Adrian Burgess (L) is expected to remain involved in a team management role. Picture: Getty

Supercars chief executive Shane Howard said Edwards, a former team manager for the Jordan F1 team, was a strong appointment for the category.

“In such a highly competitive and technical championship, Tim’s extensive experience, leadership qualities, and success both in Supercars and abroad make him an excellent fit for the role,” Howard said.

The off-track personnel moves come as Supercars gets set to introduce a major change for next year’s endurance races.

It’s understood the Supercars Commission has agreed to introduce a rule stating the primary drivers must start the race at the two endurance rounds at Sandown and the Bathurst 1000.

The proposed rule change is now with the Supercars board to be ratified.

The issue of which drivers started the Great Race came into sharp focus after carnage in the opening laps of the 2022 Bathurst 1000 when the endurance classic was marred by a series of early crashes involving co-drivers.

Howard said at the end of last season his preference was for the primary drivers to start the endurance races.

However, no change was made for this year’s rounds at Sandown and Bathurst when teams retained the flexibility to start either driver.

Howard acknowledged the role of strategy in teams opting to start the race with co-drivers but said at the time he would prefer the main drivers to start.

“It’s always been a decision of the teams who they start in the car,” Howard said at the time.

“If you asked me my preference, I would like to see the primary drivers start the race.

“I think that’s really what the fans would like to see.”

Originally published as Supercars 2023: Supercars head of motorsport Adrian Burgess’s move to Team 18 lashed by rivals