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One of the world's leading brands
of spark plugs, NGK, has joined
the Pirtek Rally Team for the 2007
NEC Australian Rally Championship
season.
The title sponsor of the Rally of
Melbourne, NGK has expanded its
rally portfolio with the addition
of the two-car Ford Fiesta team
of Michael Guest and Darren Windus.
"We have been very pleased with
our Rally of Melbourne sponsorship
and were keen to look at other ways
to increase our involvement," said
Peter Hein Associate Director -
Sales for NGK Australia. "With
the Pirtek Rally Team stepping-up
with two all-wheel-drive entries
in 2007, we viewed this as a great
opportunity.
"Like the team, we are excited about
what can be achieved in 2007. It
would be nice for the team to be
in a position to challenge at the
NGK Rally of Melbourne later in
the year."
The arrival of NGK is part of the
ongoing development at the Pirtek
Rally Team. Since December the team
has expanded and been working on
building the two Fiestas for the
NEC Australian Rally Championship.
Expansion to the team has included
chief engineer Glenn Rees, design
engineer Dean Cowling, team leader
Grant Howse, fabricator/technician
Gavin Mosher and commercial manager
Ben Beazley. The team will also
draw input from former Subaru Motorsport
Manager Greg Foletta who will be
part of the organisation's V8 Supercar
operations.
"There are still a few pieces to
fall into place, but overall we
are all working towards the first
event on the Sunshine Coast," said
Ben Beazley. "As well as the build
program here in Australia, there
is a large amount of work being
undertaken overseas with engines
at Mountune in the UK and Sadev
in France on the transmission side.
"Although Greg Foletta's role will
be mainly focused on the V8 side
of things, he will also provide
valuable input on the Pirtek Rally
Team.
"Having the V8 side of the operation
working in conjunction with the
Pirtek Rally Team is sure to provide
dividends for both programs.
"On a commercial side we are working
with a number of different partners
to insure they get full value from
being involved with an exciting
program such as this."
The opening round of the 2007 NEC
Australian Rally, the coates Rally
Queensland will be run on 31 March
- 1 April on the Sunshine Coast.
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