hero-img

Factory team deals still outstanding

09 May 2014
Red Bull and Holden extended yesterday, but what about the factory Holden and Ford teams?
Advertisement

Holden is playing its cards close on an announcement regarding continued backing of the Holden Racing Team, though it is widely tipped an announcement may be soon.

Yesterday Holden Motorsport and Sponsorship Manager Simon McNamara, with Triple Eight Race Engineering owner Roland Dane and V8 Supercars CEO James Warburton announced a multi-year extension of Holden's support of Red Bull Racing Australia.

That commitment means focus has also turned to Ford remaining in the category and keeping the traditional red versus blue rivalry alive in Australian motor racing.

Adeal was struck with Ford Performance Racing at the Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000 last year, and Warburton was confident the blue oval would remain in the sport.

"A decision on the future is premature at this stage but we see little reason why they would not continue to support their fans,'' Warburton said.

"We have developed good working relationships with all existing manufacturers and have constant, open and transparent dialogue whether it is in regards to parity or around the business and the opportunities for the brands to use our platform. In addition, we are also actively talking to a number of non participating brands in relation to the next phase of our future."

FPR Pepsi Max is currently leading the Drivers' Championship with long-time star Mark Winterbottom running ahead of Red Bull's Craig Lowndes after winning two of four races in New Zealand, while young gun Chaz Mostert has picked up his game after a tough start to the year, appearing twice on the podium at the last event.

On the other side of the fence, HRT parent Walkinshaw Racing is pushing hard to lift its performance under new boss Adrian Burgess, who was poached from Triple Eight in mid-2013 to run the team.

Advertisement

2010 Championship winner James Courtney sits fourth in the standings after a race win at the Clipsal 500 and has appeared on the podium at all four Championship events this season, while teammate and 2007 Champion Garth Tander languishes in 14th as the category heads to his home race in Perth.

Tander is out of contract with the factory team this year and an announcement could possibly also reveal his plans.

The HRT star recently told v8supercars.com.au about his contract negotiations: "It's going ok. There is some clarity around it, it will be announced in due course. I am not over the whole timeframe of everything. That's why you have managers."

Meanwhile, Holden's McNamara sat down with v8supercars.com.au at the Winton 400 and said that HRT must "stand on the top of the podium more frequently".

"It's the Holden Racing Team, it's the team with the most heritage in Australia," McNamara said. "The brand is a significant brand, it's our brand and we expect nothing less than that team being at the front of the pack week in and week out."

At the time - which was before yesterday's Red Bull announcement - he would not comment on specifics of renewal negotiations with the factory teams: "I don't want to speculate on whether they are or are not looking any good. At the end of the day the motor racing package will be a package; it won't be individual teams specifically. It will be package and a program of what we feel is the best way to go to the next level and maintain the successes we have had.

"We make no bones about the fact we want to win races week in and week out, unfortunate as it is for the TV and all the rest of it, with Commodores winning and whatever, that is what we are here for. It helps us sell merchandise and it helps us sell our brand."

Related News

Advertisement