FPR chasing new title sponsors in 2013

Ford Performance Racing will be searching for a new naming rights sponsor for Mark Winterbottom’s car in 2013 as Orrcon Steel reduces its support in the Championship.

Orrcon Steel has supported Mark Winterbottom in the V8 Supercars Championship since his days with Larkham Motorsport, and the team will continue to sponsor him at FPR.

“Orrcon Steel has enjoyed a successful relationship with FPR and Mark Winterbottom and that is why we are staying on with the team, albeit in a reduced capacity from next season,” said the company’s Managing Director Leon Andrewartha.

“The team is enjoying its best ever season so our decision is in no way related to their performance.”

“As a company we need to focus our efforts on our core business and after 11 years in the series we feel our program has reached its maturity.”

FPR Team Principal Tim Edwards added:
“Orrcon Steel has been a loyal partner of our team for many years and while it is disappointing they will no longer be a naming rights partner, we are very happy we will continue our strong relationship.”

Orrcon Steel’s reduction in support follows on from the announcement of Trading Post to pull out at the end of this season. Trading Post are the naming rights sponsor of the #6 car which is driven by Will Davison.

The Telstra-owned Trading Post brand joined the team in 2011, switching across from Brad Jones Racing and replacing Dunlop as the primary sponsor of the car, but will not be extending their arrangement with FPR, despite the team’s success this year, with Davison an early leader of the Championship and still in contention in third place.