Last Man Standing

As walkinshaw starts its next chapter, it turns to an hsv stalwart to lead the way

- Louis Cordony

LIKE A LOT OF PEOPLE,” Joel Stoddart says, “I’ll miss the Australian V8 rear wheel drive era – the old Holden vs Ford rivalry.” The former chief engineer is understandably nostalgic on what he’ll miss about the HSV we knew and loved. His tenure at Clayton is a story of the rise of a man who’s helped put some of Australia’s – and, more recently, some of America’s – greatest performances cars on our roads. And that includes the W1.

“I’ve been fortunate enough to work for a great company in an awesome industry. From test trips around Australia, to travelling the world and doing what I love for a living,” he adds, “It’s been a dream job.” It’s also a role that’s allowed Stoddart to operate behind walls, as engineers largely do, shielded from public view. But that’s set to change. Now, he finds himself at the helm of Walkinshaw Automotive Group as managing director, replacing the long-serving Tim Jackson who parted ways with the company earlier this year.

We’ve stolen 30 minutes from Stoddart’s busy schedule to catch up on what Walkinshaw AG’s plans are moving forward with GM and its General Motors Specialty Vehicles operation. But given he worked at HSV for just about two thirds of its existence, it’s worth recounting what the man driving the company has achieved – which he’s happy to do.