This week saw what has been undoubtably the biggest story of the V8 Supercars in the past 12 months. With only weeks until the series first race in Adelaide kicks off, controversy has surrounded the Holden 'golden boys' of the championship.

At the centre of the story was Tom Walkinshaw. Governing body TEGA, who is  responsible for the licensing of teams that compete in the V8 Supercar Championship Series, along with issues of compliance and other issues affecting the teams, launched an investigation at the percieved level of influence and possible ownership of Walkinshaw on both teams.

Both teams were subjected to a TEGA probe into their operational, ownership and control arrangements. On Febuary 18, a meeting involving TEGA and the two teams reached an agreed position on the validity of both licences, pending the provision of suitable supporting documentation. Today the 2006 championship- winning Toll HSV team provided TEGA with the necessary paperwork which allows Rick Kelly and Garth Tander to join the grid for the Clipsal 500 in Adelaide.

The Holden Racing Team requested, and was granted, a short extension of time. The team is required to provide the necessary paperwork today (22nd February). A TEGA ruling on the status of that licence is expected to follow.

This controversy is sure to 'fire up' the Holden teams and this has been reflected in the most recent testing with Kelly and the Toll HSV team the fastest of the VE Holdens at a recent test at the Winton track.

As for the Ford camp, secretly I am sure hey hoped the Holden teams were cleared to race as without them the 2007 championship would have been a little 'soft'. In recent testing at the same Winton test the Ford Performance Racing (FPR) teams Steven Richards Richards' Castrol FPR Falcon heading Monday's timesheets ahead of rival drivers from Team Perkins Racing, Holden Racing Team, HSV Dealer Team, Garry Rogers Motorsport and Team BOC.