PepsiCo to Title Sponsor V8 Supercars’ Ford Performance Racing

The deal covers both of the team’s primary Car of the Future Falcons, Mark Winterbottom’s No.5 car and Will Davison’s No.6 car.

The team will reveal its new look at its season launch on Thursday, 7 February 2013 in Melbourne.

FPR team principal Tim Edwards committed on the partnership: “It is with great pleasure we announce a three-year partnership with PepsiCo Australia and New Zealand which will see Ford’s two primary factory cars race under the Pepsi Max banner.

“The Pepsi Max brand is instantly recognisable the world over and the whole team is looking forward to working with a brand that brings innovation and excitement to everything it does.

“It will be the first time in the team’s history we’ve had the same title sponsor on both cars and the partnership provides us with a chance for a fresh approach and a new look at a time when we are also introducing a whole new car. This is the start of an exciting new era for everyone involved.”

Pepsi has been in and out of the V8 Supercars series over a long period, previously backing privateer Dougal McDougall’s Commodore in the early 2000s before returning to the sport in a big way with title sponsorship at Kelly Racing in 2011.

PepsiCo Australia and New Zealand Marketing Director, Kim McConnie believes linking with Ford’s factory team takes the company’s V8 Supercars involvement to a whole new level.

“Joining the V8 Supercars has been a huge success for Pepsi Max and we’re thrilled to now be teaming up with Ford Performance Racing for the next three years,” Ms McConnie said.

“We’ve always talked about our commitment to motorsport in Australia and this new deal is further justification of that. We are looking forward to a very strong year in 2013 and beyond!”

Orrcon Steel, longtime sponsor of the sport and naming-rights backer of FPR’s No.5 car since 2007, announced earlier this year that it would be continuing to sponsor the team in 2013 but in a reduced capacity.

The 2013 V8 Supercars Championship will kick off with the official Test Day at Sydney Motorsport Park on February 16, two weeks ahead of the first round of the year at the Clipsal 500 in March.