Rod Nash Racing (RNR) and sponsor The Bottle-O will shift alliances in 2010, running a Falcon V8 Supercar with Ford Performance Racing (FPR).

RNR’s move will see FPR expand to a three-car team, and while a driver for The Bottle-O Falcon is not locked in, it is has been confirmed all three cars will operate from FPR’s factory in Campbellfield, Melbourne and be positioned together in pitlane.

Edwards will remain Team Principal for the two FPR licences and Rod Nash remains Team Principal for RNR’s licence.

RNR’s partnership with FPR runs for three years and The Bottle-O has extended its sponsorship with the RNR entry for an extra year so that it runs for the same length of time.

The deal is a major coup for Rod Nash Racing, which debuted in V8 Supercars in 1998 and in recent years has run a Walkinshaw-prepared Commodore.

It also means the Ford side of the V8 field gains an extra car, which is good news for Blue Oval fans considering TeamVodafone switches from Ford to Holden at the start of next year, tipping the field in Holden’s favour.

Nash, who has a background in Speedway, said that over the last 12 years his team has used a variety of running options.

“Securing The Bottle-O sponsorship has given us a boost to pursue greater competiveness, both on and off track, to better service our team and bring in the results,” he said.

“With the recent measures to reduce staff you’ve got to be smarter with how you spread your resources and levels of personnel.

“We needed to better utilise that, especially with engineering, and running three cars makes that possible.”

Nash said he and Edwards discussed all of those points and decided an association to operate as a truly competitive three-car team “just made the best sense”.

"We have entered into a three-year contract with FPR and are very happy to now be part of this successful race team,” he said.

“I’m really happy with the quality of the engineering and FPR has been adding specialist resources to be able to build on the great track record they’ve already got.

"We’re looking forward to working with Tim’s crew and achieving some great results in this next term.”

Australian Liquor Marketers General Marketing Manager, Scott Marshall, said The Bottle-O was “more than excited” to team up with FPR.

“It’s a big step-up not just in sponsorship commitment, but in the level of awareness being aligned to a factory race team as well; it will take the program to a whole new level,” he said.

“We’re investing more money so we definitely will expand the program and how we leverage it.

“This is our third year as a V8 sponsor technically, although the first two years were just secondary.”

Marshall said his organisation’s sponsorship in V8 Supercars has so far been a great experience for the brand.

“The demographic for V8s really matches our target market,” he said.

“Our growth has been substantial since we entered.

“The brand is only three years old and we’re at over 280 branded Bottle-O outlets and growing.”

Edwards said the team’s intention is to have all three cars regularly challenging for podium positions.

“For us, running three cars is the right business model and to be able to run three competitive cars gives us one more chance of getting a great result at every race meeting,” he said.

“This won’t be a standalone operation; it’s logistically much better for us to operate three cars all together as one unit. We believe that will get us the best result.”

The announcement follows the most successful event of the year for FPR driver Mark Winterbottom.

He scored the most points from the Nikon SuperGP, got pole position on Saturday and won his first race of the year, all while battling glandular fever.

Tuesday 27/10/2009 13:00

Author: Briar Gunther | Source: BigPond Sport - copyright