Stone Brothers Racing signs engine deal

Stone Brothers Racing and Larkham Sign Engine Deal

V8 Supercar Champions Stone Brothers Racing will develop and supply Ford engines to Larkham Motor Sport for a minimum of the next two seasons in a new deal announced today.

The program is designed to reduce the escalating expense of V8 Supercar racing caused through the seriously increasing costs associated with engine and car development, according to SBR co-owner, Ross Stone.

"There is no doubt that the sport is becoming more and more expensive and partnerships like the one between SBR and Larkham Motor Sport need to happen," said Stone.

"After a grueling elimination and selection process we have stuck a deal with Larkham Motor Sport to provide and service engines for the next two years.

"This will reduce costs for both teams and hopefully speed up the development process.

"All this has come about with the encouragement and enthusiasm of Ford which is a great supporter of both teams."

Larkham Motor Sport will field two Orrcon Racing BA Falcons in this year's championship for former Bathurst winner Jason Bargwanna and reigning Konica Series Champion Mark Winterbottom as the drivers.

Team owner Mark Larkham believes the deal with SBR is the next step in his team becoming a competitive force in the V8 Supercar category.

"I guess if you are going to form an alliance of this nature then SBR, as the defending series champions, are the ones to be doing it with," said Larkham.

"This really is a sign of the times. The sport is getting more expensive and it makes no sense for single teams to be duplicating very expensive development programs in a whole range of areas.

"We have been working with SBR and Ford for sometime and I am glad we have come to, what I am sure will be win-win situation for everyone involved.

"I'm sure Mark (Winterbottom) is glad that he will again have some of the SBR grunt under his right foot this season. Bargs (Jason Bargwanna) is also pretty excited."

The V8 Supercars will be part of the support program at the Foster's Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne this weekend before the championship kicks off with the Clipsal 500 in Adelaide on March 18-21.

-sbr-