Campbell Little will return to Ford Performance Racing this weekend to engineer Mark Winterbottom’s #5 Falcon.

Little replaces regular engineer Grant McPherson, who has been struck down by glandular fever.

The one-off return follows Little’s exit from the role of sporting director at FPR customer team Dick Johnson Racing late last month.

Little had been travelling through Sydney on return from a family holiday when contacted by FPR.

“The timing was quite fortuitous but I am more than happy to help Mark and the team with their predicament,” Little said.

“We’ve all worked together for years so there won’t be an adjustment period which is important to maintain Mark’s championship charge.”

Added FPR team principal Tim Edwards: “Grant wanted to engineer Mark but he’s unable to talk so that made things a bit hard so he took the team-focussed view and subbed himself out.

“Campbell was our first call; he was luckily coming back from a skiing trip and was in Sydney so it all went to plan. He knows our car and team backwards so I don’t expect much disruption to our program.

“We obviously wish Grant a speedy recovery.”

Little previously worked as Winterbottom’s race engineer for three seasons from 2010.