F6 TORNADO
10-29-2005, 01:30 PM
SBR to reveal new driver
Release Date: 28/10/2005
Comment by Mark Fogarty
Stone Brothers Racing’s search for a new star to replace double defending champion Marcos Ambrose finally ended late Thursday morning.
After months of speculation and intrigue, filling the highest-profile vacancy in V8 Supercars was finalised in a frantic few days of negotiation.
The speed with which the deal was done is reflected in the fact that SBR’s invitation to the October 31 unmasking of its mystery man was sent out just a few hours after he was signed.
The fresh face behind the wheel of the #4 SBR Falcon next year will be revealed at SBR’s race base at Yatala, near the Gold Coast, at 12:00 PM on Monday – and, according to SBR’s web site, fans are also invited.
Along with Ambrose’s replacement, a new sponsor to take over from Pirtek as the car’s primary backer will also be unveiled. The new driver and reliveried BF Falcon – an all-new car to replace Ambrose’s dual title-winning BA warhorse – will be presented to the public after the official announcements to the media and VIP guests.
We won’t spoil the surprise – well, not entirely -- by revealing their identities, but if you think you know who the driver is, you could be right.
It’s already an open secret within the V8 Supercar fraternity and by the time he is formally confirmed, there is unlikely to be much thunder to be stolen.
I was the first to float him as a contender earlier this year, but according to my well-placed spies, he only became a serious prospect in recent days. Many maintain that the deal had been done before the Bathurst 1000 two weeks ago – some even swear it was a lock before Sandown last month – but sources close to the negotiations confirm that the wheeling and dealing didn’t begin in earnest until very recently.
That it all came together so quickly is consistent with the Stones’ stand before and after Bathurst that no decision had been made, let alone a deal done.
In fact, my moles report that SBR beat off last-minute bids from another big-name V8 team and a couple of multi-national car-makers to secure the services of ‘Mr X’. In any event, SBR’s catch is a coup and he is a welcome addition to the aging top ranks of V8 racing, possessing the ability, looks and personality to become the next Supercar superstar.
The signing of a substitute for foundation SBR sponsor Pirtek also happened in a hurry. Pirtek’s unexpected withdrawal opened the way for one of the existing secondary supporters on Ambrose’s Falcon to step in as primary backer of the new car from next year.
The name of the title sponsor won’t be familiar as the company involved is about to embark on a local rebranding to co-ordinate the identity of its trans-Pacific operations and emblazoning its altered identity all over the ‘Mr Xmobile’ will be a key plank in the launch its new look.
By happy coincidence for SBR and Ford, the backer’s corporate colour is blue, which means the new driver/sponsor combination will retain a strong link to the powerful pedigree established by the Ambrose/Pirtek partnership.
To find out who it is be sure visit the official AVESCO website here on Monday. And if your an SBR fan near Yatala on Monday then why not get down there to see what all the fuss is about. Or check out the SBR website for more information.
Mark Fogarty is Editor-At-Large of AUTO ACTION magazine and an internationally respected motor sport journalist.
Copywrite Telstra Corporation Limited
Release Date: 28/10/2005
Comment by Mark Fogarty
Stone Brothers Racing’s search for a new star to replace double defending champion Marcos Ambrose finally ended late Thursday morning.
After months of speculation and intrigue, filling the highest-profile vacancy in V8 Supercars was finalised in a frantic few days of negotiation.
The speed with which the deal was done is reflected in the fact that SBR’s invitation to the October 31 unmasking of its mystery man was sent out just a few hours after he was signed.
The fresh face behind the wheel of the #4 SBR Falcon next year will be revealed at SBR’s race base at Yatala, near the Gold Coast, at 12:00 PM on Monday – and, according to SBR’s web site, fans are also invited.
Along with Ambrose’s replacement, a new sponsor to take over from Pirtek as the car’s primary backer will also be unveiled. The new driver and reliveried BF Falcon – an all-new car to replace Ambrose’s dual title-winning BA warhorse – will be presented to the public after the official announcements to the media and VIP guests.
We won’t spoil the surprise – well, not entirely -- by revealing their identities, but if you think you know who the driver is, you could be right.
It’s already an open secret within the V8 Supercar fraternity and by the time he is formally confirmed, there is unlikely to be much thunder to be stolen.
I was the first to float him as a contender earlier this year, but according to my well-placed spies, he only became a serious prospect in recent days. Many maintain that the deal had been done before the Bathurst 1000 two weeks ago – some even swear it was a lock before Sandown last month – but sources close to the negotiations confirm that the wheeling and dealing didn’t begin in earnest until very recently.
That it all came together so quickly is consistent with the Stones’ stand before and after Bathurst that no decision had been made, let alone a deal done.
In fact, my moles report that SBR beat off last-minute bids from another big-name V8 team and a couple of multi-national car-makers to secure the services of ‘Mr X’. In any event, SBR’s catch is a coup and he is a welcome addition to the aging top ranks of V8 racing, possessing the ability, looks and personality to become the next Supercar superstar.
The signing of a substitute for foundation SBR sponsor Pirtek also happened in a hurry. Pirtek’s unexpected withdrawal opened the way for one of the existing secondary supporters on Ambrose’s Falcon to step in as primary backer of the new car from next year.
The name of the title sponsor won’t be familiar as the company involved is about to embark on a local rebranding to co-ordinate the identity of its trans-Pacific operations and emblazoning its altered identity all over the ‘Mr Xmobile’ will be a key plank in the launch its new look.
By happy coincidence for SBR and Ford, the backer’s corporate colour is blue, which means the new driver/sponsor combination will retain a strong link to the powerful pedigree established by the Ambrose/Pirtek partnership.
To find out who it is be sure visit the official AVESCO website here on Monday. And if your an SBR fan near Yatala on Monday then why not get down there to see what all the fuss is about. Or check out the SBR website for more information.
Mark Fogarty is Editor-At-Large of AUTO ACTION magazine and an internationally respected motor sport journalist.
Copywrite Telstra Corporation Limited