Ross Palmer to push Procar development

Motorsport identity Ross Palmer will accelerate development of production car racing in Australia after deciding to retire as a Ferrari team owner.

Mr Palmer announced today he had sold his two Ross Palmer Motorsport Ferrari F360 Challenge coupes in order to devote more time to his role as Chairman and Chief Executive of PROCAR Australia Pty Ltd.

PROCAR, part of the Queensland-based Palmer Group, runs the highly successful Century Batteries GTP Nations Cup and Century Batteries Australian GT Production Car Championship and next year will launch a third national racing series, the Ute Muster.

The Ferraris have been spectacular performers in the GTP Nations Cup, a championship series introduced this season to showcase the world's fastest production Grand Touring cars.

"The participation of our two Ferraris, along with the significant commitment of many other competitors, has helped underpin the fast growth of the GTP Nations Cup, to the point where our races regularly attract fields of 25 or more cars," Mr Palmer said.

"With the series securely on its feet, I feel I'm now able to step away from the stress and diversion of running a racing team in order to concentrate on being a racing category promoter."

"Neither of my cars was in the running for the championship, so when I received an invitation to sell, with the assurance they would remain in the series, it made sense to do so now instead of later."

Mr Palmer said being a team owner for the past eight years had been an exciting experience and he was proud to have worked with some fine Australian drivers, including Wayne Park, John Bowe, Wayne Gardner, Neil Crompton, Garry Waldon, Greg Crick and son Darren Palmer.

"Years ago, a man named Bernie Ecclestone sold the Brabham grand prix team in order to develop the Formula One world championship," he said.

"Well, GTP isn't Formula One but it is one of the most popular and fastest-growing forms of racing in Australia. We have tremendously exciting plans, but I can't give them full attention while also running a race team and I have happily made the decision to concentrate on running a desk instead."

-CHRIS NIXON- cnixon@ozemail.com.au