Team Kiwi Racing explore global options
8/10/2004 22:06 (Press Release) -
Team Kiwi Racing have started discussions with various parties from within the Asia Pacific Rim and Europe for a new driver to take over Craig Baird's seat in the trademark TKR All Black Machine for the 2005 Australian V8 Supercar Championship.
Discussion commenced earlier this week between TKR and the various parties after current V8 Supercar driver Craig Baird dropped a bombshell on TKR and their sponsors that he would be joining a Ford team in 2005.
Baird's decision has come as a total surprise to TKR and their sponsors after months earlier Baird had confirmed in-front of 100 plus TKR sponsors and guests that he and TKR had agreed to a new two year deal that was to have seen Baird in the TKR machine for the 2005 and 2006 seasons.
"The whole team, sponsors and myself were initially shocked at the news but are excited at the new opportunities that have presented themselves over the last week"
"That aside Craig will be missed at TKR and we now go through the process of ensuring we put a suitable driver in the All Black machine that can continue to take TKR forward in the Australian V8 Supercar Championship for 2005 and beyond," said Team Owner David John
Baird's replacement at TKR may not be another Kiwi driver either, which has been the case on all previous occasions, after the teams sponsors meet last week to discuss what was best for the team moving forward both in the short and long term.
With TKR having provided V8 Supercar opportunities to five Kiwi drivers previously that have not eventuated into anything long-term, it was decided by the sponsors that TKR should explore all options available to the team in terms of a new driver both from the local market place and internationally with all the TKR sponsors pledging their 100% support behind the team and any decision Team Owner David John makes.
"As they say one door shuts and another opens"
"We wish Craig Baird all the very best with his new team and thank him for his input over the last two seasons at TKR as we look forward to fielding an exciting and competitive TKR package at the start of the 2005 Australian V8 Supercar Championship with a new driver behind the wheel," said Team Manager Martin Collins.
One thing is for sure that who ever gets the drive at TKR will have a well sorted competitive package to jump straight into with TKR having already confirmed the purchase of a second PMM chassis and two new Holden Motorsport engines for the start of the 2005 Australian V8 Supercar Championship.
|
|
