Britek reveals identity of new driver, sponsor.

By Matthew Agius

Alan Gurr has been signed to drive the second Britek Motorsport Ford Falcon, alongside team owner Jason Bright in 2007, after it was today confirmed that a brand new sponsor, IRWIN Industrial Tools, will be introduced to the V8 Supercar Series through the Dandenong South team.

Gurr, a former crew member of Paul Morris Motorsports will drive the #26 Industrial Tools Falcon in 2007. After competing in selected events of the 2006 series with the Holden Young Lions program, and as a former round winner of the Fujitsu V8 Supercar Series, Gurr is anticipating an exciting full-time initiation to the premier class of Australian motor sport.

"This is a great opportunity to join a very professional team in the V8 Supercar Championship Series," said Gurr.

"I'm looking forward to building the relationship with IRWIN and making sure that they are represented well on and off the track.

"Joining forces not only with Britek, but also IRWIN and driving a Ford for the first time, have me counting down the days until the first race in Adelaide.

"Having a team owner and teammate like Jason Bright is going to be a major bonus for me on the track. He's scored race wins and pole positions in the biggest races; I'll take in all that experience to improve my own performance."

A member of the Newell Rubbermaid Group, this will be IRWIN's first foray into top level Australian motorsport, after sponsoring Roush Racing in the American NASCAR series.

A company spokesman, Nick Pritchard, said that the move to enter V8 Supercars is one that has been carefully calculated to reach the one of the many demographics that the series appeals to. Professional tradesmen and handymen who follow the championship are the tool manufacturer's target audience and through Britek Motorsport, Pritchard is confident that IRWIN's Australian growth will be aided.

"The success for the IRWIN brand through NASCAR racing made us have a close look at the Australian V8 Supercar Championship Series," said Nick Pritchard of IRWIN.

"In terms of the market we play in, V8 Supercars fit nicely. The popularity of V8 Supercars amongst professional tradesmen and handymen is unmatched.

"The opportunity to partner with a strong Ford outfit in Britek Motorsport is an opportunity we believe will be outstanding for the growth of the IRWIN brand in Australia."

With the team's season launch only a few weeks away, Team Principal and lead driver Jason Bright welcomed the team to V8 Supercars and Britek Motorsport.

"This announcement ticks all the boxes for Britek Motorsport," said Jason Bright.

"IRWIN is a totally new name to V8 Supercars and an enthusiastic partner that wants success on and off the track."

"It shows that non-traditional motor sports sponsors are looking at V8 Supercars and importantly Britek Motorsport as an ideal way to build their brand.

"In terms of the actual racing line-up, we have the right mix of experience and youth.

"It's been a busy time since I joined the team as a driver in December, but now with this announcement out of the way we can concentrate on the job of preparing for the opening race in Adelaide in just over a month's time."

Both the #25 Fujitsu Racing BFII Falcon that Bright will drive in 2007, and the new IRWIN sponsored machine of Gurr, will be officially unveiled at a presentation early next month. Both cars will compete at the season opening Clipsal 500 Adelaide, which starts on the shortened version of the old Formula One track on March 1st.