Motorsport: V8 veteran - from hate to hope

Russell Ingall during this year's Bathurst 1000. Photo / Getty Images

If you can't beat them, join them. That seems to be the major reason V8 Supercar veteran Russell Ingall announced on Wednesday he would be joining Holden factory-backed team Walkinshaw Racing from 2012.

The dual Bathurst winner openly admits he had little time for his new team back when he was competing with them for V8 championships in the late-90s and early 2000s.

But after four tough years in the middle of the pack with Paul Morris Motorsport, 47-year-old Ingall couldn't refuse the chance to join Walkinshaw for what could be his last chance to get back to the front of the V8 Supercar field.

"When I came back from Europe in 1996 and I was racing with Larry (Perkins), they were a team I absolutely hated because they probably cost me three championship wins," the 2005 V8 champ said.

"I absolutely loathed the team so it's pretty ironic I've ended up there ... but I also admired them because of what they achieved in motorsport and that they were one of the top teams.

"I probably wanted to race for them back then but the stars never aligned properly until now."

Ingall, a 27-time race winner in his 198 V8 Supercar starts, has brought his primary sponsor Supercheap Auto to Walkinshaw in a multi-year sponsorship deal.

It means the automotive retail chain has a team it can stick with once Ingall decides to step away from full-time driving but was also an offer too good to turn down for the man himself.

"At the end of the day, there's probably only three teams that you want to be in at the moment if you want a realistic chance of winning races," said Ingall, who has no plans to retire yet.

"It's a little bit like F1 at the moment. There's only three teams you want to be with and, unless you're with one of them, you may jag a podium but you'll never be in a competitive position every single weekend especially at the big meetings (Bathurst, Phillip Island).

"You're just hanging on. That's probably where I've been at the moment. To compete with the big factory teams is very, very difficult.

"They've got resources, they've got personnel and it's a hard gig.

"If you can't beat 'em, join 'em."

Ingall's switch comes at a cost to current Walkinshaw driver Fabian Coulthard.

The New Zealander had been with the team, which also has the Holden Racing Team of Garth Tander and current champion James Courtney in its stable, for the past two years.

So far, there's been no news on the Kiwi's future and whether he will remain with team for next season or move elsewhere.

- AAP