IRWIN Tools moving on from V8 Supercars sponsorship

After seven years at the highest level of Australian motorsport, IRWIN Tools has announced it will not be renewing its naming rights sponsorship of the #4 Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG from Erebus Motorsport V8 beyond the 2013 V8 Supercar Championship Series and will be exiting the sport.

IRWIN’s Head of Marketing, Tom Veale, made the announcement today.

“The V8 Supercar Championship Series has played an instrumental role in the strong growth of the IRWIN Tools brand in Australia and New Zealand in the past seven years,” said Veale.

Lee Holdsworth, Irwin Racing

Photo by: Edge Photographics

“Our original relationship with Jason Bright’s Britek operation, Stone Brothers Racing and more recently Erebus Motorsport V8 has delivered significant value to our brand and customers.

“While V8 Supercars has been highly successful in growing the IRWIN brand, it is time to redirect our efforts towards meeting other brand and business objectives.

“We thought it appropriate to make this announcement at this part of the season to provide Erebus with the opportunity to go to market and find a replacement partner for the #4 AMG E63.

“We have created valuable business relationships during our V8 Supercars involvement, and, just as importantly, many friendships which will endure beyond the day our logos come off the car.

“We would like to thank everyone who has been involved in this program especially Lee Holdsworth, Ross and Jimmy Stone, and Betty Klimenko plus everyone on both the sport and commercial sides of the business who have gone above and beyond to help us achieve our goals.

“We look forward to the improving development of the Erebus Motorsport operation as we close our chapter of involvement during the next two months and then cheering from the sidelines as the team goes to the next level and beyond in coming seasons.”

The IRWIN Racing #4 Mercedes-Benz AMG E63 from Erebus Motorport driven by Holdsworth and Craig Baird recently finished in fifth place in the PIRTEK Enduro Cup, which included fourth place results at Sandown and fifth in the second leg of the Gold Coast 600. Holdsworth will campaign the car at Phillip Island in November and then bring down the chequered flag on IRWIN’s involvement at Homebush in Sydney on December 6-8.

IRWIN Racing