Its all happening at TKR....

[GTRMagic]

First the founder sells a fraction of his team to a major sponsor...

from http://www.teamkiwiracing.co.nz

TKR STRONGER THAN EVER
TEAM KIWI RACING has today announced yet another major development in
their bid to be a front running team in the Australian V8 Supercar
Championship with the financial involvement of well known New Zealand
motorsport identity and Owner of one of New Zealand's largest home
building companies Jennian Homes, Mr Bernard Gillon.

Mr Gillon has been a long time supporter of New Zealand motorsport both
on and off the race track and jumped at the opportunity to be involved
as a 20% shareholder in Team Kiwi Racing along with Mr John who founded
Team Kiwi Racing in 2000 who will retain the other 80% ownership of the
TKR business.

"I have been impressed and admire what David John and his team have been
able to achieve on such a limited budget over the last four seasons and
the opportunities they have provided a number of Kiwi drivers and crew
members both in Australia and here in New Zealand during that time"

"As a Kiwi business man and a race car driver myself I can see the
potential this team has with the right financial backing and know first
hand how difficult it is to compete against the Australian teams in a
sport that is more dominated by how much financial backing you have
rather than luck". Says Bernard Gillon

Mr Gillon started with Jennian Homes in 1987 as General Manager, in 1991
he became the first Jennian Homes franchisee in Tauranga and in 1998 he
purchased the Jennian Homes company.

Under Mr Gillons leadership Jennian Homes has grown from 7 franchisees
in 1998 when he purchased the company to 25 Franchisees in 2005 with
annual turn over in excess of $200,000,000.

"It is exciting times at TKR and a pleasure to have Mr Gillon involved
with Team Kiwi Racing as we start stage two of our development this
year"

"His ability to understand both the business side of motor racing as
well as the focus of the individuals within the race team from first
hand experience will be a major asset to the team as we continue to
punch above our weight in the Australian V8 Supercar Championship and
provide ongoing opportunities in the years ahead for up and coming
drivers to experience the international competition of V8 Supercars".
Says Mr John.

The funds Mr John will receive from the sale of the 20% shareholding
sold to Mr Gillon will be reinvested back into TKR by Mr John to ensure
TKR are able to match it with the very best Australian teams in the
Championship.

"If you look at what Mr John has agreed to do by reinvesting the funds
from the 20% shareholding back into Team Kiwi Racing it tells you all
you need to know about this team and how determined they are to succeed"

"Rather than pocketing the funds himself Mr John is more interested in
reinvesting the funds back into the team for the long term benefit of up
and coming drivers, mechanics and crew members to experience the
international level of motorsport under the Team Kiwi Racing banner".
Says Mr Gillon.

Both the short and long term potential of Team Kiwi Racing is looking
very positive with this latest announcement following on from recent
confirmations that Kiwi driver Paul Radisich will be driving the TKR All
Black Machine for the 2005 and 2006 seasons, Kiwi Alan Draper who is
regarded as a V8 Supercar engine guru is the teams new engine builder, a
brand new car and new engines will be provided to Mr Radisich for the start
of
the 2005 season along with a new multi million dollar technical
development partnership having been entered into between TKR and PMM.

Team Kiwi Racing will now use the Melbourne Formula 1 Grand Prix on the
3rd to the 6th March 2005 as a test weekend for the teams new car which
will be the very first time Paul Radisich has had the opportunity to
drive a Holden in preparation for the first round of the 2005 V8
Supercar Championship in Adelaide at the Clipsal 500 on the 17th to 20th
March 2005 before heading home to New Zealand for the second round of
the Australian V8 Supercar Championship at Pukekohe Park Raceway on the
14th to 17th April 2005.

[GTRMagic]

Then over at http://www.v8supercar.com.au/

TKR introduce Frank to Paul
Release Date: 02/03/2005
Team Kiwi Racing have just taken delivery of their newest team member Frank. Having burst into life for the first time late Saturday night, less than one week old Frank is looking forward to meeting his fellow new team member Paul Radisich this weekend.

The pair will use the Grand Prix event as a test session and to get to know each other a little better.

The Grand Prix will be the first time Paul Radisich has ever driven Frank and the first time Radisich has driven a Holden in his twenty plus years of motorsport.

"Like any new pairing it will take us both a little time to get to know each other"

"By the end of the Grand Prix weekend I am wanting to have got some track time in the TKR Holden under my belt and be ready for a strong opening round of the V8 Supercar Championship at the Adelaide Clipsal 500 on the 17th to 20th March 2005". Said Radisich.

Another new member to join TKR this season is Holden Australia who have agreed to assist with the new TKR/PMM engine development program which will see TKR sport the Holden logo on the front window banner of the TKR car for the 2005 season. Holden New Zealand on the other hand do not support Team Kiwi Racing.

Jennian Homes have also extended their support of Team Kiwi Racing and will retain the front bonnet position of the TKR machine for the 2005 season joining TKR's other long time sponsors, a majority who have been with the team from the outset.

Holden Australia sponsoring TKR....

[Raglanparade]

I wonder how long it is before Rick Kelly does Frank from behind.

[pete55]

So EvoMike, you laughed when it was mentioned about a TKR sale. Was that because it was a bit close to the bone.

[flyingduck]

Good to hear that team Kiwi has landed sponsorship. Evo does this deal mean that the team will not be one of the smallest budget team or are they still going to struggle for funds for the year. Also will we see a little red on the cars now

[nicko]

Yes we will c a little red on the car, infact i have a feeling that they will use some aspects of my TKR livery designs from bout a year ago with the red spikes on the bonnet.

[Steve Holmes]

Frank is actually Pauls fathers name. Is that just a coincidence?

[BlueBlood]

Being as the car is from PMM i think they give their cars names in alphabetical order. I seem to remember pauls last car being daisy, so f would be the next logical progression.

[Evomike]

Originally Posted by pete55

So EvoMike, you laughed when it was mentioned about a TKR sale. Was that because it was a bit close to the bone.

No because a complete sale was mentioned not a partial sale.

[Evomike]

Originally Posted by nicko

Yes we will c a little red on the car, infact i have a feeling that they will use some aspects of my TKR livery designs from bout a year ago with the red spikes on the bonnet.

or just use the red spikes from their 2003 design

[Evomike]

Originally Posted by Steve Holmes

Frank is actually Pauls fathers name. Is that just a coincidence?

I think it could just be a coincedence. It was named by PMM

[Evomike]

It is also excellent that they are receiving support from Holden Australia, obviously they can see something Holden NZ can't!

[manwell]

Originally Posted by BlueBlood

Being as the car is from PMM i think they give their cars names in alphabetical order. I seem to remember pauls last car being daisy, so f would be the next logical progression.

??????
ABCDEFG
If its in alphabetical order, after Daisy wouldnt it have to be named Erica or Eric?

[Evomike]

Originally Posted by manwell

??????
ABCDEFG
If its in alphabetical order, after Daisy wouldnt it have to be named Erica or Eric?

Doesn't Paul Morris have a new car for 2005? One would suggest that has a name beginning with E.

[Chappelli]

Roll on the weekend!! Good on Bernie and Holden Australia for jumping aboard (shame on Holden NZ, although it's always puzzled me as to why TKR with no support from Holden NZ still seemed to lease (or own) Holden company vehicles?)

I think Melbourne will be a very interesting sight with so many new piant schemes. But please Nicko, pull your head out of the proverbial. Exactly how many teams have exchanged money for your design services (or exactly how many copyright infringement cease and desist letters have you served)?

[Evomike]

flyingduck

TKR will have an increase in budget in 2005 but as all Kiwi's know it is always very tough to compete against any Australian team on a dollar for dollar basis due to the exchange rate difference between the NZ$ and A$. As a Kiwi team funded with NZ sponsorship TKR need to find approx 10% more running budget than an Aussie sponsored team just to have the same running budget.

10% at an average running budget of A$2,000,000 million requires TKR to find NZ$2,200,000 to achieve A$2,000,000.

In saying this I think TKR are one of the smartest teams in the way they make their dollar stretch so far so fingers crossed for the 2005 season and lets hope more sponsorship does come their way in 2005 as I for one think they deserve it.

[Nicholosophy]

Originally Posted by Chappelli

But please Nicko, pull your head out of the proverbial. Exactly how many teams have exchanged money for your design services (or exactly how many copyright infringement cease and desist letters have you served)?

For a moment there, I was thinking "what the?"

[nicko]

I was also thinkn "what the?" and it was directed at me. Oh i had a bit a fun with some drawings while I was at uni. Love it if TKR got any inspriation at all from me, but my focus is own my new business, thats where i make my money.

Now back to the main subject, good on ya TKR for the top 10 qualifying today

[BlueBlood]

Originally Posted by Evomike

Doesn't Paul Morris have a new car for 2005? One would suggest that has a name beginning with E.

Thanks Evo, I should have put that Paul Morris had the first car out of the box this year (the slower one it would appear) I would guess it has a name starting with the letter E.

[Skippy1976]

well whats the bet they DON'T use Henry as their H name, unless of course they have switched to blue oval power by then ?

[Sultan]

Who in the world names a race car after a male name???

So far I've had - Daisy, Sophia & Angelina.....

[Evomike]

I am totally over the moon at the 9th in qualifying, this is better than could be hoped for a car that is less than a week old. The car looks good too. Well done Paul, Martin, Mike and the rest of the team, oh yeah and David, I am sure you had something to do with it too

[GTRMagic]

The #67 PMM car that has caused the team some heartache this weekend is indeed car "E", as in Earnhardt....

Looking all dusty after the trackside officials dragged the newborn thru the sandtrap



I like the new TKR paintwork, plenty of room for new sponsor branding though



... although the beanies should be well pleased....

[Evomike]

Thanks GTR, yes the beanie is pleased 9th in qual and 7th in race one, pretty bloody impressive. Well done boys.

and that Holden Australia banner on the windscreen looks damned good too, now if only Holden NZ had the same faith.....

[911]

Originally Posted by Evomike

Thanks GTR, yes the beanie is pleased 9th in qual and 7th in race one, pretty bloody impressive. Well done boys.

and that Holden Australia banner on the windscreen looks damned good too, now if only Holden NZ had the same faith.....

Yes Evo well done indeed.
Unfortunately Holden NZ can't even show some faith in our local series let alone some faith in a bunch of locals trying to take on the might of the bigger budget teams from Aust.

One suspects after a few more good results like this they'll be falling over themselves to ride on the coat tails of your team. Typical.
If only you then had the power to then chew them up, spit them out and expose these miserable sods for what they are.

Bring on race 2 and 3, and good luck to The Rat.