This year Irwin Industrial Tools will be a major player in the Porsche Carrera Cup Great Britain and have announced that they are the title sponsors for championship team, Redline Racing and 2004 champion driver Richard Westbrook.
The sponsorship will see the team name change to Team Irwin Industrial Tools – Redline Racing and together they are on track to be the ultimate winning formula for this year’s cup. The Porsche Carrera Cup GB is run alongside the British Touring Car Championship, Britain’s biggest motor racing event, with races taking place at the most important dates on the British calendar.
Ian Watson, Vice President of Marketing for Europe – Asia / Pacific at Irwin comments: “This is the first time Irwin has been involved in the Porsche Carrera Cup and we are extremely excited about moving into this new arena. Both Westbrook and Redline Racing are going from strength-to-strength with the team setting their sights on the European Porsche Supercup in 2007.
“As an international company with a strong presence in Europe, the chance to work with such a prestigious team and driver, with Pan European potential, is a fantastic opportunity for us.”
Redline Racing entered the British National Porsche Carrera Cup in 2001 and has been consistently placed in first and second positions since. 2004 was the peak of their success when both Richard Westbrook and Redline took the Driver and Team titles respectively.
Team Principal for Redline Racing, Simon Leonard, said of the sponsorship: “Having a premium brand on board, such as Irwin, is an excellent win for Redline. The sponsorship deal will see an international brand with serious integrity meet a winning team at the start of what is set to be a phenomenal season.”
Alongside the change to the team name, Irwin branding will be emblazoned on Westbrook’s 997 – model 911 GT3 Porsche, overalls, race gear and helmet. Commenting on the sponsorship, Richard Westbrook said: “Irwin has come to the Carrera Cup GB at just the right time. It’s going to be a fantastic year for the series – probably the best to date. Now with Irwin’s backing we are in the best position to go out and win the title back!”
The opening weekend of the 2006 Porsche Carrera Cup will take place at Brands Hatch, Kent on Saturday 8 April. A further nineteen races will follow with the final race of the season being held at Silverstone on Sunday 15 October.
Irwin has had a long history of motor sport sponsorship both in Europe and America. The decision to take the company’s sponsorship to the next level by sponsoring the Porsche Carrera Cup reflects the current strength of the brand and the company’s continued Pan-European growth.
