Orrcon rejoins Winterbottom through FPR.

By Matthew Agius

After sponsoring his Ford BA Falcon in the 2004 and 2005 V8 Supercar Championships, Orrcon Steel has rejoined Mark Winterbottom as a major sponsor at Ford Performance Racing for the 2007 series.

Orrcon Steel will join Ford Credit as joint sponsors of the #5 BFII Falcon, which will be driven by Mark Winterbottom in this year's V8 Supercar championship.

Previously Orrcon supported Larkham Motorsport in the series from 2002 til 2005 and was a primary sponsor for WPS Racing in last year's championship after it merged with LMS.

However with the opportunity to join the car that finished third in last year's championship and reforge a partnership with Mark Winterbottom, Orrcon Steel's Managing Director Leon Andrewartha is looking forward to a 2007 campaign with FPR that is full of promise.

"This is our sixth year of being involved in the V8 Supercar Championship and it is hopefully going to be the most exciting yet," said Andrewartha.

"At Orrcon we are always looking to get the jump on our opposition and what better way to start the New Year than by making an announcement under one of the most impressive structures which uses Orrcon steel.

"We are extremely happy to be involved with a lineup which combines the experience of Prodrive with the high-profile Ford Performance Racing team. It is going to be exciting to be reunited with Mark (Winterbottom) as we have previously enjoyed a good relationship with him.

"The FPR outfit is certainly a forward-thinking, fast paced team which is something that matches our business culture."

Ford Performance Racing's Commercial Director Rod Barrett welcomed Orrcon to the team, with a view to improve on the 2006 results of Winterbottom and the team.

"Everyone at FPR is delighted to have another blue chip company in the form of Orrcon joining the team," said Barrett.

"Mark (Winterbottom) and Orrcon have a strong history together and we're looking forward to working with the team at Orrcon on some innovative marketing ideas.

"In 2006 FPR showed its potential by finishing third and fifth in the Drivers Championship and second in the Teams Championship. The team also won two rounds, recorded two pole positions, six race wins and seven podiums for the year. In 2007 we are looking to build on these results to push for further success."

At the official announcement at the Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre, FPR also unveiled the livery for the new Orrcon/Ford Credit BFII Falcon.

In the first glimpse of any 2007 Ford design, the new #5 Ford Credit Falcon has a simple but effective design, with much more white used than in previous seasons.

The second announcement from Ford Performance Racing today, the Orrcon deal is the first new sponsorship arrangement for the Broadmeadows team in 2007, with another partnership expected to be publicised between FPR and lubricant partners BP and Castrol to become naming rights sponsors of Steven Richards' BFII Falcon in 2007.