FPR Changes Ownership
Ford Performance Racing has undergone a change of ownershipwith leading Australian motorsport identities Rod Nash and ‘Rusty’ French purchasingthe team from British engineering firm Prodrive.
Nash and French have acquired the Prodrive Racing Australia(trading as Ford Performance Racing) business which has been run by Prodrivesince it was created in 2003.
Ford Australia, as a principal sponsor ofFord Performance Racing, fully supports the acquisition.
FPR’s management structure will be bolstered by Nash whowill play a more active role in the team, overseeing and contributing to allaspects of the business.
Tim Edwards remains Team Principal and will continue to beresponsible for the daily running of FPR.
Nash, an FPR customer since 2010, is pleased he and French willbe able to assist in the continued growth of the team.
“Rusty and I are pleased we’ve been able to acquire abusiness as strong as FPR which is not only an icon of Australian sport, butone of this country’s leading specialist engineering firms,” Nash said.
“In the last few years I’ve watched FPR grow from strengthto strength and to see so many talented people from so many differentindustries working together is a real credit to Tim and the entire team.
“We are making a long-term investment in a great localbusiness which allows us to assist with developing all aspects of the team.
“But at the heart of it Rusty and I are both keen racingenthusiasts so to now own this team makes us both very proud. We are committedto a long and successful future for the Ford brand.”
Longstanding Team Principal Tim Edwards says despite thechange in ownership the operation of the team will be unchanged.
“We welcome Rod and Rusty with open arms as they are two menvery committed to ensuring our team continues to be successful,” Edwards said.
“They are not only extremely passionate about racing but bothare very successful businessmen in their own right so I look forward to thefresh approach they can provide us across all facets of the team.
“Rod will certainly play a more active role, though for ourengineers and race crew it will be business as usual as we continue ourpreparations for the 2013 season.”
FPR will continue to be part of the Prodrive family and itsstrong strategic and technical links with the company remain unchanged.
“We are delighted to pass our ownership of Ford PerformanceRacing to Rod Nash and Rusty French. Rod has been a tremendous partner to theteam over many years,” said Prodrive chairman and chief executive, DavidRichards.
“Last season was the most successful in the 10 year historyof FPR and we are pleased to be handing it over in such good competitive andcommercial health, reinforced at the end of last year by the announcement of amajor new partnership with Pepsi.
“Over the last decade, I have really enjoyed being part ofthe Australian V8 scene and developing FPR to the competitive status it enjoystoday. The races are always close and the passion the Australian fanshave for the FPR team and the series itself is something I have rarely seen inany other form of motorsport.
“FPR continues to be part of the Prodrive family and weretain our close technical and commercial relationship going forwards and Iwill personally continue to follow the team’s progress with great interest.
“I would like to pass on Prodrive’s appreciation and thanksto the FPR team members, Ford Australia, all of FPR’s current and pastcommercial partners and, of course, to the FPR fans, who make V8 Supercars oneof the finest racing series in the world.”
V8 Supercars CEO David Malone said the series endorsed thechange in ownership.
"The FPR brand is one of the most prestigious in worldmotorsport and an Australian sporting icon," Mr Malone said.
"As astute businessmen with a lifetime of motorsport historyand success, Rod and Rusty will take the team to the next step after just missingout in 2012."
FPR is coming off the back of its most successful ever V8Supercars season with 11 wins, 11 pole positions and 35 podiums as all three ofits factory-prepared Fords finished in the top 10 of the championship.
