DeWalt joins FPR.

Ford Performance Racing has added DeWalt Power Tools as an associate sponsor for the forthcoming Australian V8 Supercars season, adding another intriguing head-to-head to the series.

After Jim Beam arrived at Dick Johnson Racing to rival the Perkins Racing-run Jack Daniels Holdens, DeWalt will put itself up against erstwhile NASCAR rival Irwin Tools, which now backs Alan Gurr's Britek Ford. DeWalt, best known for backing Matt Kenseth in NASCAR's Nextel Cup, has been involved in Australian motor racing as a sponsor and supplier to several teams over the years, but has stepped up its involvement to become an FPR partner.

"There is a strong link with the performance required by today's professional power tools users and the performance required to be a top V8 supercar team, and both DeWalt and FPR show how this performance delivers results," brand manager Daniel Lawlor commented, "We are looking forward to this year's championship and to continuing our relationship with FPR into the future."

The familiar DeWalt logo will appear on the lower windscreen strip of both Steve Richards and Mark Winterbottom's cars from the opening round of the season, the Clipsal 500, in Adelaide from 1 March.

"DeWalt has an extensive motorsports heritage around the world, so we are excited by the opportunity to partner with them in our market," FPR commercial manager Simon Derrick noted, "There is an excellent fit with the V8 Supercar Championship Series and we will support DeWalt with a number of innovative programmes nationally."