Triple Eight take-over Briggs Motorsport TBE team

At a Media conference conducted this morning at Sandown Raceway it was announced Triple Eight Race Engineering out of the United Kingdom, have acquired the level one license along with the assets of Team Betta Electrical from Briggs Motorsport as of September 1st.

Head of Triple Eight Race Engineering (Aust.) Pty. Ltd. Mr Roland Dane made the announcement today coinciding with the team's sponsor's Title sponsorship of the Betta Electrical Sandown 500 event - the first of the year's endurance events.

Mr Dane went on to explain Triple Eight Australia is a newly formed company formed with the express intention of fielding a top line V8 Supercar Team in the series for many years to come.

"The company will be owned and run by the original founders of Triple Eight Race Engineering in the UK (Roland Dane, Derek Warwick and Ian Harrison) along with new partner Peter Butterly.

"The company will continue to occupy the Briggs Motor Sport premises at Bowen Hills in Brisbane and has taken on all existing staff" - said Roland Dane.

"The company is looking forward to building on the platform created by the first class facilities enjoyed by the team over the past two seasons" - he said.

Chairman of Avesco, Tony Cochrane welcomed the entry of Triple Eight Race Engineering into the world of V8 Supercars, sighting their investment in the series as a further indication of how strong the V8 Supercar category is on the International sporting stage.

CEO of Beta Stores Ltd., Guy Houghton said "The Company is excited with the prospects of having Triple Eight Race Engineering at the helm of the new operation".

"Betta Electrical has now been associated with the V8 Supercar Series for two years in association with Briggs Motor Sport and as a new team, has performed in all aspects as a champion team".

"In saying this however, there is no doubt that the series is becoming increasingly competitive and demanding on the team owners to deliver results and I am confident as a result of this acquisition, we at Team Betta Electrical will continue to progress up the ladder of success" - said Mr Houghton.

"Ultimately as sponsors, team owners or supporters, we all aspire to be the best, I am confident this new association will give us this result".

"Betta Electrical is committed to this new partnership in line with its long-term commitment to Motorsport within Australia" - he said.

Head of Ford Motorsport operations, Stephen Kruk has also welcomed Triple Eight Race Engineering to the Australian V8 Supercar Championship.

"Ford is delighted to have Triple Eight Race Engineering on board, its addition is a perfect compliment to Ford's commitment and resurgence in Australian Motorsport" - he said.

"Ford has shown it's commitment to the V8 Supercar Series and the current success can only be enhanced by the addition of such a strong internationally renowned engineering partner" - he said.

"Triple Eight Race Engineering's expertise in European racing, especially touring cars, is amongst the very best in the world and we look forward to their ability to continue to drive the super competitive Australian Motorsport scene forward" - he commented.

"The combination of Triple Eight's successful engineering history and success of the BA Falcon will be a tremendous addition to the Ford Racing Team".

"We look forward to a long and successful association and we wish Triple Eight Race Engineering every success in their venture into Ford V8 Racing" - he concluded.

Triple Eight Race Engineering UK has successfully taken out the British Touring Car Championship Series, the Constructors Championship and the Drivers Championship for both 2001 and 2002 - all three titles.

The team has already won this years Constructors Championship, Series Championship and looks set to again take out the Drivers Championship for 2003 as well, with only one remaining round to run, Yvan Muller requires just six points to win this years Drivers Championship.

Roland Dane said "This achievement is unprecedented in British Motorsport, for one team to take out all three Championships in three successive years has never before been achieved.

He said, " It is a credit to the entire team and further proves that with the best engineering staff available world wide - it is possible to achieve unequalled success".

" We view our entry into the Australian V8 Supercar Series as a new challenge".

"For us, the way that V8 Supercars is run by Avesco and Tega is for the most part an example to others around the world, as well as providing great racing and entertainment" - said Dane.

"In 2004, we hope to make a substantial and lasting impression in the V8 Supercar Series and lay the foundations for an ongoing top line involvement in V8 Supercars Australia" - Dane concluded.

-tbe-