Team Kiwi defects to Ford for 2007.

By Matthew Agius

The only New Zealand based team of the V8 Supercar Championship, Team Kiwi Racing, will defect to Ford for the 2007 series after seven years entering Holden Commodores.

The team operated by David John will switch to the Blue Oval as of next season, opening endless support and marketing opportunities for Ford New Zealand, who had previously been overshadowed in the V8 marketing department by their Holden rivals. Ford NZ's Managing Director Richard Matheson was excited by the prospects of Ford's first Kiwi entry taking to the grid for 2007.

"We are delighted to welcome TKR to the Ford family and look forward to a long and successful association with them," said Matheson.

"Our loyal customers and fans have told us that they would love to see Ford New Zealand support a NZ team and driver in the Australian V8 Championship, and we believe this sponsorship with the New Zealand's national motorsport team complements our other associations with the national rugby and netball sides."

The deal will see Team Kiwi Racing switch from Holden, and a technical partnership with Paul Morris Motorsports on the Gold Coast, to Ford and Ford Performance Racing in a new Melbourne-based technical association. The TKR Falcon will be of the same specification to the two FPR entries, however Rod Barrett, Ford Performance Racing's Commercial Director, noted that the teams will remain separate entities.

"Ford New Zealand were seeking a stronger involvement in the Australian Championship and as FPR is closely aligned with Ford and possesses one of the country's leading technical facilities, it was a logical extension for FPR to have an alliance with TKR," said Barrett.

"The TKR Falcon will be identical to the two FPR Falcons that will compete in the 2007 Championship - all of which were designed and built in-house by FPR.

"We will provide our engineering expertise and support to TKR with dedicated TKR staff both at the circuit and between events, however the team will operate from separate pit garages at race events," said Barrett.

Team Principal David John was pleased a suitable deal to improve TKR's championship assault was produced between the triple NZ Touring Car Champions and Ford, and is optimistic FPR's expertise will assist the team's push to the front.

"We established TKR in late 2000 as New Zealand's first-ever full time V8 Supercar team and we remain committed to our charter of providing opportunities for talented Kiwi drivers and mechanics," said John.

"This association with Ford New Zealand will provide TKR with the right assistance and technical support that we believe will bring us our best opportunity to reward our loyal TKR fans with race wins."

As yet it is unknown whether current driver Paul Radisich will return to Ford with Team Kiwi. Previously, Radisich had driven for Dick Johnson Racing (under the Shell Helix Racing banner) and Team Betta Electrical. An announcement on the team's 2007 driver will be made later in the year.