The challenge for teams to secure naming rights partners in 2013 continues, with Orrcon Steel joining Vodafone and Trading post in reducing their sponsorship of prominent V8 teams next year. Check out the initial post here…
A move that is said not to have anything to do with performance (as they are doing pretty well!) Orrcon Steel is reducing its support for Ford Performance Racing and Mark Winterbottom’s #5 car in the V8 Supercars Championship citing maturity of their program.
"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."
Orrcon Steel has been the naming rights sponsor of the #5 car since 2007 and has supported Larkham Motorsport and WPS Racing in the past.
This is the third in a series of naming rights sponsors reducing their sponsorship after Trading Post dropped Will Davison’s #6 car. Team Vodafone will also be remained next year, as we welcome Redbull to the fray…
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In other (slightly related) news though, Casey Stoner has staunchly denied rumours that he will be racing in the V8 series in 2013. Seems like the World MotoGP Champion just wants to spend time with his family…
"Am I going to race V8s next year? No, I'm going to stay home and watch my little girl grow up for a while," Stoner said. "I want to enjoy myself and be free. Number one, I will enjoy my family and not have to stress about the next race."
He will be missed, but I am sure his daughter will appreciate his reprioritising. Good on the lad for making a difficult decision, but I am sure we haven’t seen the last of him yet.
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