Big task ahead for Walden Motorsport.

By Matthew Agius

Sydney will provide a home to a V8 Supercar team once again after it was confirmed that Walden Motorsport had taken a majority stake in the Romano Racing level two competition franchise today.

The deal was signed on Friday December 22 last year, and the team now awaits a final tick of approval from the Touringcar Entrants Group (TEGA) to allow the team to compete in the 2007 V8 Supercar Championship Series.

Having competed in selected rounds during the 2004 V8 Supercar Series, Walden Motorsport will return to the series as a one-car operation and are expected to source a car from Paul Weel Racing, although an official announcement is expected later this month.

"It's all pretty exciting really," said team spokesman Brian Walden.

"While in Brisbane yesterday we also organised a car from a strong team, and we'll be making an announcement in January on that, plus the make-up of the team, as well as our major naming rights sponsor.

"We'll continue to run the team out of our own workshop in Sydney's west near Silverdale.

"We want the people of Sydney to get behind us next year, and call it their car, because we are very proud to live in the world's best city."

Since Tasman Motorsport's departure from Sydney at the end of 2004, the largest city in Australia has been without a V8 Supercar team calling it home.

Walden Motorsport also become the second team to operate out of New South Wales with Brad Jones Racing's Team BOC squad working out of Albury.

Since the change to 'Blueprint' regulations, one-car teams have struggled to be competitive in the premier class of the series.

The task ahead for Walden Motorsport is huge and the unforgiving, ultra-competitive brand of racing that has developed in the category is likely to give the team a baptism of fire come the Clipsal 500 Adelaide on the first weekend of March.