How HRT lured Red Bull Racing Australia mastermind Adrian Burgess Adrian Burgess (centre) celebrates with Dick Johnson and Charlie Schwerkolt of Jim Beam Racing after James Courtney won at Winton in 2010. HOLDEN Racing Team (HRT) owner Ryan Walkinshaw sat in a Texas bar sipping a beer when Red Bull Racing Australia (RBRA) mastermind Adrian Burgess walked in. "Why don't you come and work for me," joked the UK-based entrepreneur to the three-time V8 champion manager. Burgess laughed, grabbed a beer and went about celebrating another weekend of Red Bull domination that saw Jamie Whincup score three race wins at the Austin 400. What started as a bar room joke ended up becoming one HRT's greatest coups as the famous team yesterday announced they had snared RBRA team principal Burgess from next season. The Daily Telegraph can reveal the man Walkinshaw is hailing as HRT's saviour was lured away from the most powerful team in V8 Supercars after some wishful thinking and an accidental meeting in the US. "They bumped into each other at the Texas round," said someone close to the deal. They met each other and it rolled on from there. The V8 world was rocked yesterday when The Daily Telegraph broke the news that Burgess had been sent home by RBRA owner Roland Dane after he gave his six months' notice and told Dane he was defecting to HRT. Dane told him not to worry about his final six months in no uncertain terms. The resignation was not only a shock to Dane but the entire V8 world, with no one suspecting Burgess would walk away from the almighty team, seemingly destined to deliver Whincup a record equalling fifth title this year. The deal was only officially signed yesterday, but the talks had been going on since Texas. Walkinshaw was reluctant to discuss details. But the UK rugby club owner did declare Burgess his team's greatest score. "It is huge," said Walkinshaw. Forget anything else this silly season, this is the biggest. It is a huge deal to get the guy that has won back-to-back titles with Triple Eight and before that Dick Johnson Racing. He is one the verge of winning another title this year and now wants to be a part of what we are doing here. It is not about the money, he wants to come here as part of the bigger picture. Red Bull Racing were in lockdown yesterday with Burgess' sudden departure, officially described as "gardening leave," having the potential to derail Whincup's championship charge. Dane will step back into the role he vacated after poaching Burgess from DJR. Dane addressed his stunned staff after Burgess was shown the door. Burgess will be reunited with James Courtney, the driver that took him to a title with DJR in 2010, at HRT next year. There is no doubt Courtney was influential in helping land Burgess, and it can also be taken as said that Burgess' rumoured arrival was a factor in the former champion re-signing with HRT.