Paul Weel Racing signs up V8 mastermind.

By Matthew Agius

Dumped Holden Racing Team manager Jeff Grech will assist Paul Weel Racing in 2007 and the squad's future V8 Supercar campaigns after the experienced Team Manager signed onto assist the team in a senior managerial role.

Grech helped the Holden Racing Team win six V8 Supercar Championship Drivers' titles over a seven year period, however with the fallout of the HRT/Tom Walkinshaw debacle, eventually found himself on the outer of the Clayton based team. Grech will take up a position at Paul Weel Racing, which similarly found itself on the outer of the Two Walkinshaw Performance Group family of teams.

After a disappointing year for the team under the Supercheap Auto Racing banner, Grech joins the team as they begin to develop their new VE Holden Commodore for the 2007 championship. With Greg Murphy leaving the team and Paul Dumbrell likely to defect from Perkins Motorsport, Grech's appointment is one that Team Principal Kees Weel believes will help the team back to the front of the pack.

"After three major accidents at the opening two rounds of the championship, a decision was made to begin looking to the future and we have been clearly focussed on that ever since," Weel said.

"A major part of that was the decision to design and build three new VE Commodores for the 2007 season, and we contracted Dencar to complete the task in-house. The build process for the first two of those cars is well and truly underway.

"While the new cars will go a long way towards improving our performance, further changes within the team are also necessary if we are to achieve our goals, which we've set quite high.

"Jeff has been appointed to assess the situation and advise us on what else is required to meet those goals."

It appears, despite early speculation, that Paul Weel Racing's sponsors will commit to the team again in 2007, with Supercheap Auto, the No Limits Group and Holden all affirming their support for the Dandenong-based team.

"The support we have had from our sponsors has been extraordinary and reflects the professional way in which we have approached our business in what has been a difficult and trying season," continued Weel.

"Supercheap Auto, No Limit and Holden have all recognized the effort put in by the team, along with the positive exposure we have still been able to generate and they are standing firmly by us."

Supercheap Auto Racing will conclude its 2006 V8 Supercar campaign at Phillip Island this weekend for the Caterpillar Grand Finale.