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FPR appoints new commercial manager

Ford Performance Racing (FPR) is delighted to announce the appointment of highly experienced automotive and motorsport industry marketing specialist David Vervaart to the role of Commercial Manager, effective immediately. David Vervaart ...

Ford Performance Racing (FPR) is delighted to announce the appointment of highly experienced automotive and motorsport industry marketing specialist David Vervaart to the role of Commercial Manager, effective immediately.

David Vervaart replaces Simon Derrick, who leaves the Prodrive owned V8 Supercar team after almost four years in the role. Simon leaves the company to pursue a senior marketing position in the AFL.

Vervaart, 45, brings a wealth of commercial experience to FPR, which started from humble beginnings as a motor mechanic in his hometown of Hobart in 1979. He progressed to owning and operating his own successful retail automotive aftermarket based businesses over the next decade before pursuing his passion for motorsport by joining the Tasmanian Motor Racing Company as Manager of Symmons Plains International Raceway in 1990. In recognition of his efforts and broad experience gained in the operation of a motor racing circuit and the management of team requirements and events, Vervaart was hired by Australian racing icon and team owner Frank Gardner to manage the marketing and administration requirements of Gardner's highly successful BMW racing teams. This role included the management of the team's base of operations, the BMW Performance Driving Centre, exposing him to vast driver training and ride experience event co-ordination and liaison with the corporate sector.

Vervaart has also experienced the motor racing business from the regulatory angle, having worked for the Confederation of Australian Motor Sport (CAMS) as Project Manager -- Motorsport in both 1993 and 1994 on issues of safety, the organisation of the Australian Touring Car Championship, the Australian Manufacturers' Championship, the Australian Drivers' Championship, the Australian Production Car Championship and the Australian Super Production Car Series. This enabled Vervaart to gain broad experience in team / competitor liaison, event organisation, motorsport marketing, television rights along with government regulatory body liaison.

Vervaart has also been self employed as a motorsport consultant to several major local and international motor racing organisations. These include the Zhuhai International Circuit, China's first permanent motor racing facility and the Australian Grand Prix Corporation where he occupied the role of National Press Officer for the inaugural and highly successful Albert Park Formula One Grand Prix. Vervaart also headed up Toyota New Zealand's 1995/6 New Zealand Touring Car Championship challenges, which included the sourcing of commercial partners.

Vervaart established Tasman Automotive Marketing in 2000 and has worked with many automotive and general industrial clients, including exhibition organisers and a number of international companies. The past seven years have served to highten the new FPR Commercial Manager's broad experience in motorsport, automotive and general business marketing.

According to FPR Team Principal and Prodrive Racing Australia Managing Director Tim Edwards, "We are delighted to welcome a new team member with such vast commercial experience that not only relates to the motor racing industry, but also includes general business marketing and sales experience. We are sure that David will assist us to best service our many loyal commercial partners in the future, while attracting new partners to the team."

For David Vervaart, becoming FPR's new Commercial Manager takes his detailed motor racing and automotive industry career to a new level with one of Australia's largest motor racing teams. "I'm delighted to join this premier V8 Supercar team at a time when they are reaping the rewards of their hard work over the past five years. I look forward to building on the team's success in all of our commercial operations in line with our competitiveness on the track."

-credit: fpr.com.au

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