Twenty five years on, Castrol and Tickford still trust the same formula
Trusted by experts, 25 years of performance with Tickford Racing. For professional mechanics, trust is earned through results.
It’s built over thousands of kilometres, countless workshop hours and the confidence that comes from knowing a product will perform when it matters most. That same principle applies at the highest level of Australian motorsport, where Castrol and Tickford Racing have spent nearly a quarter of a century working together in one of the sport’s most enduring partnerships.
As Castrol and Tickford Racing approach 25 years together, the relationship demonstrates why Castrol products are “Trusted By Experts” and relied upon by professionals who push machinery further, harder and longer than almost anyone else.
Motorsport as the ultimate test environment. The demands placed on a Supercars engine are relentless. Extreme temperatures, sustained high loads, split second throttle transitions and race conditions that leave no room for error create an environment that few mechanical systems ever experience.
For Tickford Racing, lubricants are not simply consumables. They are critical performance components. As outlined by Tickford Racing Chief Engineer Brad Wischusen, Castrol products are used throughout the race car, from engine oil and transaxle fluids through to power steering, brake fluids and greases. The aim is simple, ensure every component performs consistently under the most demanding conditions.
What makes the relationship unique is that it extends beyond conventional sponsorship. Castrol and Tickford engineers work collaboratively, using motorsport as a proving ground to understand wear, monitor performance and continuously refine lubricant technology. Oil samples are routinely analysed to assess engine wear and component health, providing valuable insights into performance and durability.
For mechanics, the principle is familiar. The best outcomes come when products are selected not simply because they meet a specification, but because they have been proven in demanding real world conditions.
Lessons learned on the track. One of the most compelling aspects of the Castrol Tickford partnership is how closely racing mirrors the mindset of a professional workshop. Success isn’t determined by hope or guesswork. It’s driven by preparation, monitoring and attention to detail.
Tickford’s engineering team plans for numerous race scenarios before every event. Weather conditions, tyre performance, cooling requirements and component durability are all factored into race strategy. According to Wischusen, the team continually examines potential variables and outcomes long before the race begins.
The same approach exists in workshops across Australia and New Zealand every day. Professional technicians understand that reliability is rarely accidental. It comes from selecting the right products, maintaining equipment correctly and anticipating potential issues before they become problems.
From the race circuit to the workshop. While Tickford’s Supercars use specialised lubricant formulations designed specifically for competition, the development process provides valuable insights that influence broader product innovation. Tickford and Castrol worked together to develop engine oil formulations suitable for the unique requirements of modern Supercars engines, starting from established technology and continually refining it through testing, monitoring and analysis.
A partnership built to last. In modern sport, long term partnerships are increasingly rare. Yet Castrol and Tickford Racing continue to demonstrate the value of a relationship built on shared goals, technical collaboration and mutual trust. Approaching 25 years together, their partnership stands as one of the most enduring in Australian motorsport, and for a category and teams used to change on all fronts, that’s a powerful endorsement.
Whether in workshops across regional Australia or at 280 km/h down Conrod Straight at Mount Panorama, the expectation always remains the same, performance when it matters most.
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