Premium synthetic lubricant manufacturer Royal Purple announced today it has joined forces with Subaru Rally Team USA in a multi-year agreement.

The team, order managed by Subaru technical partner Vermont SportsCar, ask will begin to utilize Royal Purple products in each of its factory Rally and Rallycross teams.

Subaru Rally Team USA has won the Rally America National Championship seven of the last eight years with drivers Travis Pastrana and David Higgins, and now also fields a two-car effort in the burgeoning Red Bull Global Rallycross Championship with drivers Bucky Lasek and Sverre Isachsen.

“We are excited to begin working with Royal Purple,” explains Lance Smith, Owner and President at Vermont SportsCar. “A technical partnership with a brand like Royal Purple, who has a deep understanding of the demands of motorsports, is a positive move for our team and we all look forward to the performance gains they will give us across all our racing efforts.”

Royal Purple produces a wide range of high performance racing lubricants and has a strong heritage within motorsports. Vermont SportsCar will immediately begin testing and working with the full spectrum of Royal Purple products at both their in-house engine dyno as well as in the Rally America and Red Bull Global Rallycross competition series.

“We are looking forward to our partnership with the Subaru Rally Team USA, and welcome the opportunity to demonstrate our product’s ability to outperform in their rally cars across two strong racing series in 2014,” said Bryan Yourdon, Royal Purple President.

Technology brand Brother UK has announced a partnership with both The Tour of Britain and the Friends Life Women’s Tour 2014 cycle races.

The association will see Brother UK become ‘Official Supplier’ to both the men’s Tour of Britain and women’s Friends Life Women’s Tour. The brand will supply printers and consumables at both races in addition to technical support. 

Brother’s partnership rights range from on-course branding in the finish funnel at every stage of the two events to VIP hospitality at each race.

Phil Jones, Brother UK’s Managing Director, said: “The Tour of Britain and the Friends Life Women’s Tour are both fantastic events which see many of the world’s best competitors come to Britain. Cycling relies heavily on data and technology for performance analysis so these are events with which we feel the Brother UK brand has many synergies.”

Alastair Grant, Commercial Director of organisers SweetSpot said: “We would like to thank Brother UK for their support in 2014 and look forward to working with them and their technology for the benefit of both events.”

The sponsorship will be launched at the Friends Life Women’s Tour, which gets underway in Oundle, Northamptonshire on Wednesday 7th May.

The Manulife Financial LPGA Classic will remain in Waterloo Region for at least the next two years following renewed support from the title sponsor.

The financial services company confirmed Monday it will stay on as title sponsor for the popular event in 2015 and 2016. The third edition of the tournament, with an increased purse of $1.5 million US, will be contested June 5-8 at the city-owned Grey Silo Golf Course.

“We are thrilled to bring this world-class event to Waterloo Region,” said Marianne Harrison, president and chief executive officer of Manulife Canada.

“The community’s support of the tournament has been outstanding, bringing in over 60,000 spectators each year and the support of over 1,000 dedicated volunteers. Fans have also been treated to exciting golf with two sudden-death playoffs.”

The location for the 2015 and 2016 tournaments has yet to be decided, but Grey Silo, which hosted a media gathering on Monday, and the Whistle Bear Golf Club in North Dumfries are the likeliest destinations.

Negotiations between tournament owner Sports Properties International and the two suitors are ongoing, said company president Jack Swift. “Nothing has been finalized … we’ll make a decision after this year’s tournament and we’ll hold another press conference to announce that decision,” said Swift.

“We’ve enjoyed a great run with Grey Silo and hopefully we can continue, but I have to tell you it’s our job to create the best venue we can. You’re always looking at ways of making the event better, and if that means moving it, so be it. If not, that’s OK too.”

Mobil 1 has been named the “Official Racing Oil of the World of Outlaws and DIRTcar” as a part of a new technology partnership.

Mobil 1 Racing oils will be featured at all World of Outlaws events including the World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series, order Late Model Series, arthritis | DIRTcar Summer Nationals and Super DIRTcar Series. To support the series’ teams and racers, Mobil 1 is introducing a traditional contingency program with a specific focus on rewarding engine builders who provide their customers with the performance benefits of Mobil 1.

“The Mobil 1 Racing team works hand-in-hand with motorsports teams around the world, not just to win races, but to develop industry-leading technologies through testing Mobil 1 lubricants in the most demanding environments possible,” said Artis Brown, global motorsports manager at ExxonMobil. “With dirt tracks making up more than 70 percent of all race tracks in the United States, this partnership with the World of Outlaws and DIRTcar will allow us to further build upon the race-proven technology of Mobil 1 Racing oils with the competitors at those tracks each weekend.”

Since 2011, Tony Stewart Racing has served as an important technology partner for Mobil 1 inside the World of Outlaws. The team fields a roster of the sport’s top champions including 5-time Sprint Car champion, Donny Schatz, and “The King of the Outlaws” 20-time Sprint Car champion, Steve Kinser.

“The World of Outlaws and DIRTcar Racing have a rich and storied past with many champion Mobil 1 drivers, so having Mobil 1 come on as an official technology partner with DIRTcar HP was a natural progression for us,” said Ben Geisler, chief marketing officer at the World of Outlaws and DIRTcar. “This partnership with the Mobil 1 Racing team will allow our engine builders, racers and teams to get the most performance out of their engines, which produce more than 850 horsepower and operate in one of the harshest, most demanding and competitive environments in all of motorsports.”

Subaru has been announced as the title sponsor of 2014 IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship triathlon to be held on September 7 in Mont-Tremblant, anesthetist Quebec, Canada.

Subaru is also continuing as the title sponsor for four additional IRONMAN events in Canada, including the Subaru IRONMAN North American Championship Mont-Tremblant on August 17, Subaru IRONMAN Canada on July 27 in Whistler, B.C., Subaru IRONMAN 70.3 Mont-Tremblant on June 22, and Subaru IRONMAN 70.3 Muskoka on September 7. 

“Subaru has been committed to IRONMAN for more than a decade and we are proud to expand that relationship further with a title sponsorship to our 2014 IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship,” said Andrew Messick, Chief Executive Officer of IRONMAN. “The broadening of Subaru’s sponsorship for IRONMAN races over the last few years has continued to affirm their dedication to promoting a healthy lifestyle.” 

Subaru’s involvement with IRONMAN triathlons in Canada dates back to the mid-1990s with Subaru IRONMAN Canada. This partnership grew to include the Subaru Triathlon Series and eventually races from east to west with the Subaru East Coast Triathlon Series, Subaru Western Triathlon Series and the Subaru IRONMAN 70.3 Muskoka. Last year Subaru expanded its title sponsorship to include prestigious IRONMAN and IRONMAN 70.3 events in Mont-Tremblant, Quebec. 

“Subaru Canada is excited to be the exclusive Title sponsor of IRONMAN events in Canada,” said Ted Lalka, Vice President of Marketing for Subaru Canada. “Adding Subaru to the title of the 2014 IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship in Mont Tremblant is a significant step in growing our brand within the triathlon community. Our passion for the sport of triathlon in Canada has evolved over two decades and we are committed to supporting healthy, active lifestyles. We salute all competitors, no matter the challenge, from IRONMAN triathlons to the shorter Subaru Triathlon series races.”

US fuel brand Sunoco has become an official sponsor of the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) beginning in 2015.

Activation of the sponsorship will include a comprehensive package of television spots, no rx digital presence, anabolics on-site visibility, and NHRA-themed consumer and retail promotions designed to increase attendance and television viewership.

The 10-year agreement calls for Sunoco to become the official racing fuel of NHRA and will be the exclusive on-site gasoline and nitromethane supplier at all NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series national events. Sunoco gasoline will be the spec racing gasoline in the Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle categories at national events and Competition eliminator categories at both national and NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series events.

“The fuel supplier is one of the most integral partnerships that a racing sanctioning body can have,” said Tom Compton, NHRA president. “We’ve had great partners in the past, however, Sunoco not only will provide our racers quality products, but our companies will be great marketing partners to increase awareness of NHRA Drag Racing and the Sunoco brand.”

According to Graham Light, NHRA senior vice president of racing operations, “Sunoco will fulfill our ongoing commitment to provide a ‘spec’ fuel that keeps the playing field level. Fuel shouldn’t be a competition variable. Sunoco also will have on-site service and technical support at national events and testing sessions.”

“Motorsports and the manufacturing of performance fuels are in Sunoco’s DNA,” said Bob Owens, president and CEO of Sunoco, Inc. “Our partnership with the NHRA represents our dedication to performance at the highest levels of racing and will carry over to the fuels that consumers put in their street vehicles.”

Michael Waltrip Racing announced today it has signed multi-year contract extensions with sponsor 5-hour ENERGY, sales driver Clint Bowyer and crew chief Brian Pattie to race its No. 15 Toyota Camry in the NASCAR Sprint Cup series starting in 2015.

The trio joined MWR in 2012 and has scored three wins and earned two Chase berths including a runner-up finish in 2012. 

“This is big news for all of us,” said Bowyer, an eight-time winner in NASCAR Sprint Cup competition. “It creates great stability and excitement about what the next few years can bring. MWR is my racing home and continuing this relationship with 5-hour ENERGY was a high priority. It’s time to put the paperwork in a drawer and focus on winning.” 

“Since the first day 5-hour ENERGY, Clint and Brian showed up at MWR, we have been a contender for wins and championships. I am so thankful that we get to continue and add to what we have built,” said co-owner Michael Waltrip. “I am most happy for the employees of MWR who are the foundation of everything we do.” 

The familiar red, black and yellow brand colors of 5-hour ENERGY will adorn the No. 15 in 24 NASCAR Sprint Cup events each year starting in 2015. Additional primary partners on the No. 15 include PEAK and AAA Mid-Atlantic. 

“We have clearly aligned ourselves with one of the most competitive and energetic drivers in racing and we felt it was really important for us to continue the equity we have built over the past three years,” said Scott Henderson, president of 5-hour ENERGY. “We love Clint, the people at MWR and the sport of NASCAR. The extension decision was also based on our racing program’s success with our sales team and all of our participating retailers.” 

Bowyer celebrates his 300th start Sunday at Kansas Speedway.

Indy Trading Post has agreed to sponsor the No. 25 Indy car of Marco Andretti for the inaugural Grand Prix of Indianapolis and the 98th running of the Indianapolis 500.

The third-generation racer is fresh off a second-place finish at Barber Motorsports Park and heads into the Grand Prix of Indianapolis weekend sixth in the championship points standings. 

Located just south of downtown Indianapolis, Indy Trading Post is the city’s go-to for family shooting sports.

In addition to a spot on the No. 25 Snapple Honda, Indy Trading Post will continue its relationship with Jarett Andretti, son of John Andretti and cousin to Marco Andretti, where the local business has branding on the third-generation racer’s sprint cars. Jarett most recently competed in the Glen Niebel Classic driving the No. 18 Indy Trading Post Pavement Sprint Car at Anderson Speedway on April 27 where he finished fourth in his second pavement sprint car race of his career.