Aussie rivals unite to make CPAP machines
Australian car manufacturing rivals Walkinshaw Automotive Group and Premcar have joined forces to make CPAP machines amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

The project has been underway for some time, Ryan Walkinshaw telling Motorsport.com back in mid-April that a "skunkworks", including engineering talent from the Walkinshaw Andretti United Supercars team, was working on medical supplies.
He revealed then that some of that work was in tandem with Premcar, a rival car manufacturing business largely made up of ex-Ford Performance Vehicles staff.
It's now been formally confirmed that the Walkinshaw/Premcar alliance is manufacturing UCL-Ventura CPAP machines, under license from the University College London and Mercedes AMG High Performance Powertrains Ltd.
The product is approved by the Therapeutic Goods Administration, with Walkinshaw/Premcar able to produce 1000 units per week.
There is also a TGA-certified face shield design that can be manufactured at a rate of 100,000 per week.
“It’s been fantastic to work alongside Premcar," said Walkinshaw.
"Three months ago, you’d never consider working with your biggest rival on a project, but one of the real positives that has come out of this tragedy is the unity between everyone, both locally and globally, to help in any way they can.
“As automotive companies, turning our joint design, engineering, and production capabilities to assist the pandemic has been an extremely rewarding programme, and one that didn’t require too much thought. The engineers and production staff from both organisations have done an incredible job.
“The Australian Government has done a fantastic job in flattening the curve, which has in turn allowed companies across the country to establish solutions and approval for these to go into production. It was essential for us to ensure this was completed properly, with the relevant approvals, before speaking publicly on it.”
Premcar boss Bernard Quinn added: "I am very glad that Premcar and Walkinshaw Automotive Group have come together to work on the CPAP device.
"To be honest it’s not only been a tremendous outcome from a technical point of view, but the co-operation was an absolute pleasure to be part of. The teams gelled immediately, and the progress was swift.
“I look forward to further collaboration with our old foes from Clayton. I think both parties can benefit enormously from the combined skills and competencies of the two organisations. Perhaps more importantly, so can our customers.”


Fuel blunder costs van Gisbergen Michigan clean sweep
Best of the banter – Supercars goes NASCAR

Latest news
Frightening crash triggers Supercars change
The frightening start line crash at The Bend SuperSprint has triggered a new mandate for in-car warning systems.
Date set for 2023 Australian Grand Prix
A date has been set for the 2023 edition of the Australian Grand Prix.
Baseball club buys into DJR Supercars team
An announcement on the impending ownership change for Supercars powerhouse Dick Johnson Racing is expected at some point this week.
Murphy/Stanaway Bathurst 1000 livery unveiled
The covers have come off the Boost Mobile-backed wildcard entry that Greg Murphy and Richie Stanaway will race at the Bathurst 1000 this year.
Why Courtney and Tickford are a dream match
James Courtney has been around the block in his motorsport career it's fair to say. After a single-seater career cut short, he's won everything there is to win in Supercars. Following a rocky ride recently in the Australian category, he's found a happy hunting ground with Tickford Racing.
How taming his temper shaped Supercars' slow-burn star
His decision to leave Brad Jones Racing was the biggest shock of the Australian Supercars silly season so far. But for Nick Percat, it comes as the culmination of a personal journey that has made him into one of the most rounded drivers in the series, now in search of a seat that can make him a champion
Why replacing Supercars' GOAT with a teenager is worth the risk for T8
On the face of it, picking an 18-year-old rookie to replace arguably the greatest Supercars driver of all time is a risky move. But as Jamie Whincup takes up a team principal role and hands his car to Broc Feeney, it's one that he is confident will be rewarded in the fullness of time - time which wasn't afforded to Whincup in his early days
How Randle went from fighting cancer to battling for Supercars contention
After his fledgling career was paused by a battle with testicular cancer, Thomas Randle then had to wrestle with finding a drive in Supercars after he got the all-clear. It's been a long road for the Melbourne native but, after two lengthy battles, he's finally got a full-time drive to look forward to
How crisis talks over Supercars’ Gen3 future could leave it without a paddle
With Supercars’ Gen3 era on the horizon, a shift is set to take place – in more ways than one – but, as has become clear in recent weeks, the plan to bin the stick and use paddles with electronic assisted shift has been met with fierce opposition
Can DJR still be a Supercars powerhouse after Penske?
Roger Penske's whirlwind Australian Supercars sojourn is over. After six seasons, three drivers' titles, three teams' championships and a Bathurst 1000 crown, The Captain has sold his controlling stake in Dick Johnson Racing back to the squad and walked away from the category.
Can Whincup be Triple Eight's ruthless leader?
Supercars' most successful team of the past 15 years is set for a radical shakeup next year when Jamie Whincup retires from driving and takes over the reins at Triple Eight. But does he have what it takes to be the new Roland Dane?
Why Supercars now needs a new "human salt harvester"
Scott McLaughlin has been a controversial figure in Supercars over the past few years but, as he heads off to a fresh challenge in IndyCar, the Australian tin-top series needs to find someone else to fill his drama-filled boots as the category enters a new era...