TKR PUT SAFETY FIRST BEFORE 2019 BATHURST CAMPAIGN

MEDIA RELEASE/Team Kiwi Racing – Photo: supplied

As they say sometimes it is best to take one step back to take two steps forward and that is exactly what TKR with full support of their sponsors has decided to do in respect to their Wildcard entry for this year’s Supercheap Bathurst 1000.

Last week, Team Kiwi Racing (TKR) owner David John announce that his team was focused on giving it their best shot of helping two talented kiwi drivers to make it on to the gird for the start of this year’s Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000 despite the short time frame.

However today TKR owner David John has had to make one of the hardest decisions he has ever made.

“Bathurst is a special place for TKR and the very place TKR debuted at with the late Jason Richards in 2000 and as the first ever Kiwi team to have ever competed in the Supercars Championship. But today I have made a decision in conjunction with our sponsors and with the support of Supercars that time is against us in the preparation to get the Team Kiwi Racing entry onto the grid at the level we require, in time for the 2019 Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000, which is due to commence in a little over two weeks. David John explained.

“I have been overwhelmed with support throughout this process from both sides of the Tasman and also from Supercars.”

“We achieved our financial targets in a little over 72 hours from the time of our last press release and we also sourced very talented staff to lead the engineering and mechanical side of the project. We had even organised a test date and our sign-writers to sign-write the TKR All Black Machine later this week, not to mention flights, accommodation, rental cars, uniforms, overalls and so much more already booked and paid for.”

Despite the Fantastic effort from all involved, we have simply run out of time to have all aspects of this campaign to a point that we were not rushing things to see Team Kiwi Racing on the grid in the manner that was fitting of our brand and of the Championship. It has been a tough call, but the right one nonetheless.”

TKR will still take a 100+ strong crew of supporters to the 2019 Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000 and after a number of sponsors meetings in the last 48 hours the Kiwi team has now switched their attention to being ready for the opening round of the 2020 Virgin Australia Supercar Championship at the Adelaide 500 season opener.

“I have already spoken with our major sponsors, many supporters and crew to announce this decision and of our focus to not only be on the grid at the opening round of the Supercars Championship in 2020 but at a number of Supercar events throughout the 2020 season which is also TKR’s 20^th Anniversary season,” John said.

“I was heartened by the full support we received from all our sponsors, the entire tour party group and of their commitment to see TKR back on the Supercar grid in 2020, which marks the 20th anniversary season for Team Kiwi Racing (TKR) since they debuted at Bathurst in October 2000.”

David John did not rule out the team’s interest to purchase a full REC for 2020 and confirmed he is meeting with Supercars Management at Bathurst with a view to discuss this opportunity further.

Either way it looks promising we will see the TKR All Black machine back in the Supercars Championship at a number of events in 2020 including the 2020 Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000.

“We fully intend to be on the grid at Adelaide for the opening round of the 2020 Virgin Australia Supercar Championship as a Wildcard entry or with our own REC,” John declared.

“What we can say without hesitation is that the TKR brand is 100% committed for a return to the Australian Supercar landscape in 2020 which is great news for Kiwi drivers and motorsport fans on both sides of the Tasman.”

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