International automotive entrepreneur Tom Walkinshaw has died, raising questions about the future ownership and direction of Holden Special Vehicles.
Scotsman Walkinshaw has owned and operated HSV for more than two decades.
Walkinshaw, who was 64, had been suffering from cancer.
He had operated automotive engineering and motor racing businesses on behalf of various car manufacturers in many countries over a long period.
However, his fortunes took a severe hit in 2002 when his Arrows Formula One team collapsed after missing several grands prix under the weight of heavy debts.
HSV remained a core operation for Walkinshaw throughout and beyond those difficulties.
Through his HSV ownership he also operated the Holden Racing Team, although for several years after the Arrows problems the V8 Supercar team was in the hands of superstar Australian driver Mark Skaife.
Apart from his motor businesses, Walkinshaw was a passionate rugby man and chairman of the Gloucester club in Britain.
Among his many roles in motor racing he was at one time chairman of the prestigious British Racing Drivers' Club (BRDC), operator of the Silverstone circuit -- home of the British GP.
He had great success campaigning Jaguar sportscars, winning the Le Mans 24-hour classic in 1988 and 1990.
He also competed successfully with Jaguars at Bathurst before the HSV deal.
In the early 1990s he became the engineering director of the Benetton F1 team and was described today by Reuters as having been "instrumental" in enticing Michael Schumacher to the Italian clothing company's team immediately after his GP debut with Jordan in 1991.
Before Schumacher departed to join Ferrari the Scotsman moved -- or was moved - out of Benetton to the Ligier team, and then in 1996 he acquired Arrows.
By the time it folded in 2002 Arrows had contested 382 GPs without winning any.
News of Walkinshaw's death was breaking in Australia this morning, with statements expected within hours on what it will mean for HSV.
British driver Mark Blundell was one of the first to comment on Walkinshaw's passing, calling it "a great loss to the world of motorsport -- good driver and team owner, RIP".
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