TKR goes Blue

[tonynz]

It has been confirmed today.
What should I do with the plates on my car.
Tony

[jediholden]

Damn shame that. I'll still support him for the remainder of the season though. Watching him at Oran park the other day, and getting some nice shots of the Rat, i thought "oh well this is it" no more "Black rat".

[VXfan]

So does this mean PMM is going to turn blue too?I thought the 2 teams were linked?
Cheers,
Tony.

[jediholden]

doubt it...

[tonynz]

Here is the press release

TKR PRESS RELEASE

17th August 2006



"TKR REWARDED FOR HARD WORK"



QUESTION AND ANSWER WITH TKR OWNER DAVID JOHN



Yes its true folks. All those rumours that you have heard over the past few months about Team Kiwi Racing (TKR) switching to Ford in 2007 are 100 percent legit. So rather than add to any rumours we decided to go straight to the horse's mouth - David John, TKR owner.



Q: Big bold move David. I guess what all the punters want to know is why?



A: I don't know if it is a Big bold move but it certainly is the right business decision for TKR, our sponsors and loyal supporters at this point of time.



TKR want to win races in the Australian V8 Supercar Championship and that means you need to have every part of your team sharing the same goal and vision that you have and be prepared to back you in achieving such goals.



Ford have come to TKR and put their best foot forward opening up a number of exciting new partnerships and access to technical knowledge that will make this dream of winning races in the V8 Supercar Championship a true reality for TKR with Ford.



Q: You have a very loyal fan base. Do you think the change will upset the Holden fans?



A: Sure some fans will not like the move but others will. However TKR is a Kiwi team first and foremost. We already have support from both Holden and Ford fans and have never got too tied up in the Ford versus Holden thing. It has always been about what is best for this Kiwi based team to achieve our goals against the Aussie based and Aussie funded teams in the toughest touring car championship in the world while staying based in NZ.



At this point of time Ford can offer TKR that opportunity and they want to be part of our success in achieving that first ever win for TKR in the V8 Supercar Championship and are prepared to back us in achieving that goal.



After all everyone loves a winner and more importantly when a Kiwi team beating an Aussie team.



Q: What kind of time frame can we expect before the TKR Ford is winning rounds?



A: I would hope to see us on the podium in 2007 on more than one occasion and our goal for 2007 will be to win our first race outright. Not reverse grid race but first race outright.



Q: The Rat. Is he in the plans for the TKR Ford?



A: Paul is contracted to TKR till the years end as is the same with most team and driver contracts, so we will be making a driver decision on who our driver for the future is but Radisich is definitely a driver TKR believes still has a lot to offer and he definitely wants to finish his career in V8 Supercas on a high.



Q: What level of commitment has Ford given TKR?



A: The level of commitment from Ford is not so much funding but opening the doors to the world's best automotive technical partnerships for TKR. TKR will be a standalone team and employ new staff to run the TKR Ford team in 2007 and beyond but we will also have a technical alliance and support from Ford Performance Racing and Prodrive. Obviously Ford Performance Racing has shown plenty of potential this year as the Ford Australia Factory Team and Prodrive are world renowned for their technical development and automotive expertise.



NZV8: Will you still be based here in New Zealand even with the falling Kiwi dollar?



DJ: Yes that is 100% guaranteed and something Ford wants to see remain. TKR started out as the first ever Kiwi V8 Supercar team to compete in the Australian V8 Supercar Championship in 2000 and despite sponsorship being harder to find in NZ (where all our sponsorship dollars come from) due to the size of the economy and the Kiwi dollar being worth less than the Aussie Dollar (which sees TKR having to find almost 20% more budget just to match the same Aussie dollar budget of our competition) TKR has never thought about moving our management base and or total race operation to Australia.



In fact TKR have just recently invested further funds into a new TKR premises in Auckland which will be unveiled shortly showcasing exactly what our intentions for this new facility are and the benefits to the local motorsport arena.



Between now and years end it is business as usual and TKR are focussed on bettering last years result of a top 14 position finish in the Australian V8 Supercar Championship and bettering our top ten finish last year at Bathurst.



For Further Info contact David John - .

[V8SS]

Well thats one less model I'll be buying next year:(

[KiwiRallyFan]

...and one more for my collection!

[jediholden]

TKR want to win races in the Australian V8 Supercar Championship and that means you need to have every part of your team sharing the same goal and vision that you have and be prepared to back you in achieving such goals.

Tony, If you're right about the PMM link scenario does it look like someone's having a go at PMM?

[VXfan]

TKR want to win races in the Australian V8 Supercar Championship and that means you need to have every part of your team sharing the same goal and vision that you have and be prepared to back you in achieving such goals.

Tony, If you're right about the PMM link scenario does it look like someone's having a go at PMM?
I think it's a dig at Holden in general (pardon the pun).They weren't getting a lot of support there.Makes me wonder if WPS will switch camps?(Gore has no love for Ford)

[V8SS]

Ironically when the idea of TKR was first announced, a mock up was shown of a black AU Falcon Supercar but apparently Ford NZ wouldn't come to the party with support so they went with Holden.
I think of more interest will be who will drive the car next year. The Rat may be keen to hang around and reunite himself with Ford again.

[tonynz]

The mock up photo's of the car also have the colour of the R of TKR as Blue, when it was red.

[tonynz]

TKR actually bought a Ford when they first decided to get into racing, but soon after bought a Holden.

[lukey73]

Will be interesting to see which chassis they buy to start off with! More than likely a FPR Chassis by the sounds of it and getting tech data from them if i read between the lines.

Alot of there budget must surely go to freight and transport costs for the team which they came out and stated last year was a making racing in Australia a costly exercise. Surely with sponsor dollars harder to find in NZ it be better to be based in Aus with Nz staff.

Luke

[jediholden]

(Tony) I think it's a dig at Holden in general (pardon the pun).They weren't getting a lot of support there.Makes me wonder if WPS will switch camps?(Gore has no love for Ford)

Are you suggesting Bargwarna and Wilson coming to Holden??

[VXfan]

(Tony) I think it's a dig at Holden in general (pardon the pun).They weren't getting a lot of support there.Makes me wonder if WPS will switch camps?(Gore has no love for Ford)

Are you suggesting Bargwarna and Wilson coming to Holden??
Wouldn't be that strange,both have driven for Holden before (especially Bargs) and it's no secret that Gore has no love at all for Ford.

[jediholden]

Yeah I just read the Gore report at the official site. He doesnt hold back attacking Ford that's for sure. I wonder if Holden would welcome his outspoken views?

[Tander#34]

Is there any advantage into basing the team in NZ. It just doesnt make good buisness sence. The team budget is 20% behind before turning a wheel, and as Lukey73 said, their logistics costs must be ridiculous.

[ratbag-racing]

maybe they can sneek in some extra practice over the pond .

[brchi17]

Will be interesting to see which chassis they buy to start off with! More than likely a FPR Chassis by the sounds of it and getting tech data from them if i read between the lines.....

I was reading this too & wondered if this means Britek are moving out with Bright from under the FPR umbrella in '07 ???

[brchi17]

Ford New Zealand and Team Kiwi Racing (TKR) today announced an exciting new association that will see the Kiwi-based V8 Supercar team pilot a Ford Falcon in the 2007 Australian V8 Supercar Championship.

"We are delighted to welcome TKR to the Ford family and look forward to a long and successful association with them," said Richard Matheson, Managing Director Ford New Zealand.

"Our loyal customers and fans have told us that they would love to see Ford New Zealand support a NZ team and driver in the Australian V8 Championship, and we believe this sponsorship with the New Zealand's national motorsport team complements our other associations with the national rugby and netball sides."

TKR Team Owner David John is excited about the opportunities the alliance with Ford will bring.

"We established TKR in late 2000 as New Zealand's first-ever full time V8 Supercar team and we remain committed to our charter of providing opportunities for talented Kiwi drivers and mechanics," said John.

Since its debut in 2000 as a privateer team, TKR has secured a pole position, a podium finish and numerous top ten results in the Australian V8 Championship. The teamhas also won three New Zealand Championship titles.

"This association with Ford New Zealand will provide TKR with the right assistance and technical support that we believe will bring us our best opportunity to reward our loyal TKR fans withrace wins," said John.

The TKR Falcon and new TKR staff will benefit from a technical alliance with Ford Performance Racing (FPR)

As one of Ford's leading teams in 2006, FPR has enjoyed a very successful season including race wins and round podiums - FPR drivers Jason Bright and Mark Winterbottom are currently placed 8th and 5th respectively in the Championship.

"Ford New Zealand were seeking a stronger involvement in the Australian Championship and as FPR is closely aligned with Ford and possesses one of the country's leading technical facilities, it was a logical extension for FPR to have an alliance with TKR," said Rod Barrett, FPR Commercial Director.

"The TKR Falcon will be identical to the two FPR Falcons that will compete in the 2007 Championship - all of which were designed and built in-house by FPR.

"We will provide our engineering expertise and support to TKR with dedicated TKR staff both at the circuit and between events, however the team will operate from separate pit garages at race events," said Barrett.

The TKR driver for 2007 will be the subject of a later announcement.

For me the most interest point of it was:

"it was a logical extension for FPR to have an alliance with TKR," said Rod Barrett, FPR Commercial Director.

The TKR Falcon will be identical to the two FPR Falcons that will compete in the 2007 Championship - all of which were designed and built in-house by FPR.

This says to me like it's a 2nd defacto Factory Ford team, I wonder if they'll eventually run 4 cars & be grouped much like the current HRT/HSVDT situation ???

[MarkHM]

Didn't Paul Radisich taken an equity stake in TKR when he joined

[singer]

Didn't Paul Radisich taken an equity stake in TKR when he joined

I believe he was offered equity in the Team but I'm not sure whether he took up the option:confused:

[Chev_350]

Yeah I just read the Gore report at the official site. He doesnt hold back attacking Ford that's for sure. I wonder if Holden would welcome his outspoken views?

I'd say not, otherwise you'd think they would have struck a deal already, having Chrysler on the dash probably isn't helping either


I was reading this too & wondered if this means Britek are moving out with Bright from under the FPR umbrella in '07 ???

I don't think Britek was really in the FPR banner, sure they ran (still run?) old FPR and Brigthy drives for FPR....But they share no info dispite being grouped. By the sounds of it TKR would get support from FPR

[extremevalet]

I believe he was offered equity in the Team but I'm not sure whether he took up the option:confused:



Yes he did take the option. This is the main reason we will now see tkr on the correct side of the fence
:rolleyes2:

[Kenseth17]

I think it is great news for TKR, The Rat, FPR and V8 Racing in NZ. There seem to be no egos at TKR unlike Mr Gore's and even though he is helping Mighty Marcos in the CTS, he just can't help himself at times. Ford will never come around until he mellows out. With this announcement I think TKR have gained immensley by not only being in favour but becoming part of the Royal 'Blue" blood as an extention of the factory team. WPS have lost further ground, even though their speed has been quite decent this year and Larko is doing an awesome job. Ford and FPR can only gain by this.
Also, are the recent events ie- HRT/HSV 4 car team and now this, the start of the new 'super teams' era??
Keep watching lads!

[Robert Murphy]

Didn't Paul Radisich taken an equity stake in TKR when he joined

NO.

[tonynz]

From what I know I don't believe Paul has any equity in TKR.

[V8SS]

On the TV news last night, they said that Radisich is contracted to Holden so that may prevent him driving the Ford.

[MarkHM]

As they say "all will be revealed in the fullness of time"

[tonynz]

No ones answered my question
What should I do with my plates?
I asked Paul Radisich at Oran Park last weekend what I should do he said sell them .(This was before the official press release)

[brchi17]

No ones answered my question
What should I do with my plates?
I asked Paul Radisich at Oran Park last weekend what I should do he said sell them .(This was before the official press release)

sounds like a good idea then.......;)

[malscar]

tonynz (http://forums.biante.com.au/member.php?u=949)
http://forums.biante.com.au/images/icons/icon1.gif
No ones answered my question




Do you follow the team/driver or only Holden? Answer that and you answer your question.

[Robert Murphy]

tonynz (http://forums.biante.com.au/member.php?u=949)
http://forums.biante.com.au/images/icons/icon1.gif
No ones answered my question




Do you follow the team/driver or only Holden? Answer that and you answer your question.

You could keep them, sell the SS and buy a GTP.:D
Rob

[Leigh]

No ones answered my question
What should I do with my plates?
I asked Paul Radisich at Oran Park last weekend what I should do he said sell them .(This was before the official press release)
Keep them until next year when a whole lot of Ford loyals will jump on board TKR...then sell them;)