UTE: PROCAR new media division announced

Motorsports organiser PROCAR Australia will boost the marketing and promotion of its events next year through a new division, PROCAR International Sports Media.

PROCAR International Sports Media (PROMEDIA) will coordinate television production, marketing, sponsorship sales, public relations and promotions for PROCAR's four national racing championships, its eight-round PROCAR Champ Series events and the annual Bathurst 24-Hour international race.

PROCAR Chairman Ross Palmer said today the company's strong growth in the past season demanded a greater focus on marketing.

"This is an important step in PROCAR's development and we will be employing extra staff to make sure it's successful," Mr Palmer said.

"PROCAR has an enormous amount to offer fans, competitors, sponsors and commercial partners."

Mr Palmer will resume an active role at PROCAR after devoting much of this year to other projects in his Palmer Group, including the relocation from Sydney to Brisbane of the Poolrite swimming pool and spa equipment manufacturing company.

However, he announced PROCAR would be losing two of its senior executives at the end of the current motor racing season.

John Cowley, Deputy Executive Chairman, and Chris Edwards, General Manager-Operations, will leave after the Bathurst 24-Hour on 21-23 November, the last event on the 2003 calendar.

"Both John and Chris have contributed enormously to PROCAR's success over the past couple of years and I am sorry to see them go. However, both have decided independently and for different reasons that the end of the season is the right time to seek new challenges.

"I'm grateful they have agreed to stay and help us through our biggest event of the year, to which each has made a significant contribution."

John Cowley said it was satisfying to have helped achieve Ross Palmer's vision of a successful Bathurst 24-Hour race in such a short time.

"It was a major part of my role when I joined PROCAR and it's wonderful to see the event is up and running," he said.

"PROCAR is moving in the right direction and now I have other goals in life. I'll miss it all, but wish PROCAR and its staff all the best for the future."

PROCAR Australia stages the Donut King Australian Nations Cup Championship, the Australian GT Performance Championship, Australian Production Car Championship, Poolrite V8 BRutes Series, PROCAR Champ Series and the annual Bathurst 24-Hour race.

-procar.au-