Reynolds Extends With Rod Nash Racing

Rod Nash Racing’s #55 The Bottle-O FPR Ford will be driven by David Reynolds at least until the end of 2015 after the parties completed a new deal in the lead-up to this weekend’s Wilson Security Sandown 500.

Reynolds, currently in the second year of his existing two-year deal, is excited to have his future mapped for a further two years and is happy to remain with the team.

“I really like driving for Rod and RNR and being part of the big FPR family is where I want to be,” Reynolds said.

“We’ve had some success but we both want to build on that and take everything to the next level so there was never any intention to do anything but keep driving for Rod.

“The Bottle-O has been a big supporter of his team for many years and they have been great to work with. I think we suit each other really well and by the end of my current deal I will be their longest-serving driver so I am looking forward to repaying their loyalty on and off track.”

Nash dismissed recent speculation about Reynolds not driving his entry as merely that.

“There has been constant dialogue with Dave throughout the course of the year about him remaining with the team beyond 2013 and we are very pleased we’ve been able to sign him for at least the next two seasons,” Nash said.

“We enjoy a long-term association with our title-sponsor The Bottle-O and now both they and Dave are with us until at least the end of 2015 which provides great continuity both commercially and for our engineering team.

“Dave is now starting to hit his strides after coming to grips with the new car at the start of the season and we see no better place for him to take the next step than here as part of the broader FPR family.”

Nash highlighted the difference between his ownership of the #55 Racing Entitlements Contract and his ownership with Rusty French of the entire Ford Performance Racing operation.

“While Dave is part of the FPR family, he technically drives for my licence under the Rod Nash Racing (RNR) banner,” Nash said.

“The commercial budget for my licence is separate to that of the #5 and #6 factory cars entered under the FPR banner.

“The Bottle-O has built their marketing and communications around the team and they use Dave as the face of their campaigns so they also wanted him to stay.

“Dave’s deal also has nothing to do with the ongoing discussions FPR and Ford are engaged in. While Ford is a partner of RNR we are merely one of their customer teams, not the official factory team.”

Reynolds is partnering with Dean Canto this weekend in the Wilson Security Sandown 500, the opening event of the PIRTEK Enduro Cup, which also features the Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000 where the pair finished a famous second last year.