Irwin and Marshall at Britek

IRWIN Industrial Tools has committed to another two years of sponsorship of Britek Motorsport and has confirmed that Marcus Marshall will drive the #26 Ford Falcon in the 2008 and ’09 V8 Supercar Championship Series’.

29-year-old Marshall has a wide range of experience in racing with Champcars, A1 Grand Prix, Carerra Cup, Formula 3, Formula Ford and, most importantly, 21 starts in V8 Supercars including an entire season in 2006.

Britek Motorsport Managing Director Jason Bright believes Marshall will be a great asset to the IRWIN Racing team.

“The ingredients are all starting to take shape,” said Bright. “We have the outstanding commitment from IRWIN Industrial Tools as well as a driver I believe will shine at the team.”

“Marcus has vast experience at still a young age and that will be a bonus to the IRWIN Racing team. I know Marcus very well. We were part of the same team at Sandown and Bathurst in 2003 and ’04. I really think he’s a guy who can take the IRWIN Racing team to the next level.”

“In the ultra-competitive world of V8 Supercars we need to ensure that the IRWIN Racing Falcon moves up the grid, challenges for points on a regular basis and strives for podium results. Marcus, supported by our professional engineering group, has the opportunity to do this from 2008”.

Marshall ran full-time in the V8 Supercars Series in 2006 with Paul Cruickshank Racing. In 2007 he has driven for Perkins Motor Sport at Sandown, Bathurst, Symmons Plains and Phillip Island. He also finished fourth in the 2007 Carerra Cup, including three race wins.

“This is a great opportunity for me and I’m really looking forward to working with the entire team, especially Jason,” said Marshall. “I’m really excited to be back in a Ford and joining a very dynamic sponsor, IRWIN Industrial Tools. IRWIN is a leading brand and I’m sure we can give them something to really get behind from 2008”

“I’m very hungry to do well in V8 Supercars. The outings I had this year have confirmed my desire and I want to give the IRWIN Racing team my 100% dedication from 2008. 2008 is going to be a very gruelling schedule with 15 V8 events in total, including a return to the Grand Prix and a new street race in Hamilton NZ. The planning that is already in place both on and off the track has me very excited.”

Nick Pritchard, Managing Director of IRWIN Industrial Tools, is looking forward to IRWIN’s second year in the V8 Supercar Championship Series.

“Racing is a great fit for the IRWIN brand and we plan to fully exploit that in 2008,” said Pritchard. “After our initial year in the V8 Supercar Championship Series, we have committed to another two years with Britek Motorsport to run the IRWIN Racing team.”

“We are very excited about the season ahead. On-track we will have a great new look, a great new driver with Marcus, and off-track we are going to run a range of promotional campaigns to support the sponsorship. We are sure that all things combined will bring us the desired result.”

Underlying it’s commitment to the 2008 season, IRWIN Racing has released an artist’s impression of the colour scheme for next year.