Larkham adds Queensland sponsor

VIP Petfoods has extended its commitment to this weekend's VIP Petfoods Queensland 500 by reaching a one-off event partnership with Mark Larkham Motorsport.

The arrangement is for this weekend's 500km race only and will see Mark Larkham and former world 500cc champion Wayne Gardner driving a Falcon adorned in VIP livery.

"We are extremely happy to be able to do a deal with Tony Quinn and VIP Petfoods for this weekend," said Larkham, who uses Queensland Raceway as his home test track. "VIP is a new player to V8 Supercars and their commitment through the naming rights of this weekend's race is testimony to their level of enthusiasm. "It is always positive to form new relationships, if only for a weekend, but I am confident Wayne and myself can deliver a great "bang for the VIP buck" this weekend. "It would be a fairytale ending for all of us to get our Ford over the line first with VIP Petfoods livery aboard tomorrow. "We need to assure any potential sponsor that the arrangement with VIP Petfoods is for this weekend's event only and that we are still searching vigorously for a new naming-rights partner for the remainder of the season and beyond."

VIP Petfoods owner, Tony Quinn, was enthusiastic about his company's association with Mark Larkham and his Ford team.

"Mark certainly operates one of the most professional teams in the V8 Supercar ranks and it is great to have come to an arrangement with his team this weekend," said Quinn. "The good thing about the whole deal is that Mark did not have to paint his car over night his trademark yellow is almost identical to our own corporate racing colours. "We are confident Mark can represent us in the top 15 shootout and then he and Wayne (Gardner) can give us a decent shot in the race. "Mark and his team have been enthusiastic supporters in the lead-up to this weekend's race and it's more than appropriate that we have formed a partnership. "It is nice to be a Queensland company doing a deal with a Queensland team in the VIP Petfoods Queensland 500 at Queensland Raceway now that's a mouthful."

-QR