ASTC: Paul Morris announces touring car sponsors for 2000

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 8: Three-times BOC Gases Australian Super Touring Champion Paul Morris today announced that he would be sponsored in the 2000-2001 series by Mount Cotton Estate winery.

Mount Cotton Estate is based on the south-east outskirts of Brisbane and is set to become Queensland's largest winery. Production is expected to begin in April and will reach 2,000-tonnes annually, with a range of still whites, reds, and sparking wines.

Morris won the Super Touring championship in 1995, 1997, and 1999 in BMWs, and also took the chequerd flag in the 500km endurance race at Bathurst four months ago.

The 2000-2001 championship comprises eight rounds, starting at Oran Park in Sydney on May 28, and will feature 16 hours of television coverage on the Seven Network.

Morris, 32, said he was delighted with the support he had secured from Mount Cotton Estate Winery, which is entering major motorsport sponsorship for the first time.

"It's great to be able to attract a new sponsor to the sport," said Morris. "With the television package on the Seven Network we are in a position to offer fantastic commercial opportunities."

Mount Cotton Estate Winery has been developed over the past 18 months and includes production and bottling facilities, public viewing areas, and a 500-seat restaurant, along with other leisure tourism experiences on offer. Grapes are being sourced from growing areas in Queensland, on-site and at the company's existing vineyard 'Seven Scenes' at Ballandean, near Stanthorpe.

Senior winemaker, Adam Chapman, has previously worked in France, the Barossa Valley in South Australia, and the Hunter Valley in NSW.

"We have started crushing grapes, and we expect the opening of the winery will be around April or May, which is when Paul (Morris) starts racing in the Super Touring Championship," said Chapman.

He said the winery had received "considerable" feedback after Morris raced with minor signage from the Mount Cotton Estate in the Bathurst endurance event in October, televised by the Seven Network.

"After that race we received a lot of enquiries from people who wanted to know about the winery and what we were doing," said Chapman. "We tested the water with the Bathurst sponsorship, and if the results are anything to go by this is going to be an excellent way to promote the winery, especially with national television coverage."

Morris also announced today he would be sponsored by Big Kev's Cleaning Products in V8 Supercar events in Australia in 2000. He will drive a Big Kev Racing Holden Commodore in the 13-round Shell Championship Series, which begins at Phillip Island on February 13, and in support races at the Australian Formula One Grand Prix at Albert Park in Melbourne in March, and at the Honda Indy 300 Champ Car event on the Gold Coast in October.

"It's going to be a busy season running in both the Super Touring and V8 championships, but I did both back in 1994 so I know what to expect," said Morris.

Mike Porter - mikep@qldnet.com.au