McLean hits-back at speculation and announces new V8 Superteam
7/5/2000 12:14 (Jason Whittaker) - John McLean, team principal of Greenfield Mowers Racing, has hit back at suggestions the future of his team was in jeopardy, announcing an exciting expansion to the Queensland-based operation.
Looking to put any speculation to bed, McLean released an "urgent" press release last night, stating that, despite his son's (Cameron McLean) defection from the team for this year's endurance events, the future of the Ford-backed operation is not in doubt.
Further, McLean last night released details of a new-look expanded operation, to incorporate a second AU Falcon and an EL Lites car into the workshop.
While Cameron McLean's absence from the team come September will be a significant loss, John McLean has said the team will run the Greenfield Mowers AU Falcon at the Queensland 500 and the FAI 1000. A driving combination for the No. 40 Falcon is yet to be named.
That AU (to be driven by McLean at all events except the Queensland 500 and FAI 1000) will be joined by a second AU later in the year to launch a new two-car attack on the Shell Series. The second AU will make its first appearance at the Queensland 500 in September.
The Greenfield Mowers team will also have a presence in the Konica V8 Lites Series, after McLean last night announced the merger of the Greenfield Mowers team and Rod Salmon's One World Hotel Falcon V8 Lites team.
The new partnership and expanded three-car Greenfield operation, incorporating a new look, name, and new sponsors, will form one of the largest and most significant racing operations in the country.
"The combination of the two teams will result in a much stronger presence and allow us both to move forward in results and profile," John McLean said.
Cameron McLean, who the team insists will continue to play a major role within the team in the years ahead, also spoke of his excitement at the new project.
"I am delighted with the merger of the two teams which will not only steer us towards better results and a better overall package but will also allow us to maintain our own identity which we have worked hard at building," Cameron said.
"A merger was definitely the way for us to progress in the current climate and I feel that this was definitely our best option. It will allow us to progress to the next level while still continuing the Greenfield Mowers Racing techniques."
"The business, PR, marketing and management skills The Race Centre (Rod Salmon's Lites operation) offers combined with our race engineering and operational expertise will form an extremely successful alliance," he said.
The Greenfield team is working with Rod Salmon and his EL Falcon at Round 2 of the Lites Series at Phillip Island this weekend. The presence of the McLean operation in the Salmon team will only increase following the announcement of the merger last night.
After completing a full Lites season, Rod Salmon will then team with young ex-Karting champ Damien White in the Greenfield Mowers' second AU Falcon for the Queensland 500 and Bathurst FAI 1000.
Both Salmon and White last night spoke of their excitement of joining the expanded ranks of the new-look McLean super-team.
"(It is) a step forward for both teams to achieve a combined goal of creating a professional, level one team competing in the Shell V8 Supercars Championship," Salmon said.
Damien White echoed his thoughts. "I am very enthusiastic about the opportunity of working with a driver of Cameron's calibre and the professionalism of the Greenfield Team," he said.
"It is pleasing to see that persistence and hard work does eventually pays off. It has been a long and sometimes trying road leading to this and now is the time for me to prove my worth," he said.
A "complete F1 style launch" of the new team will be held in Sydney prior the Queensland 500 in September.
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