V8 name dumped as Supercars secures Virgin backing

The V8 Supercars series will from now on be known as the ‘Virgin Australia Supercars Championship', effectively dumping the ‘V8’ tag ahead of the introduction of the Gen2 rules next season.

The Virgin Australia deal will run for the next five years, and includes a dedicated ‘Supercars Travel’ platform which will help teams and fans travel the country with the series.

“We are delighted to welcome one of Australia’s most recognisable and premium brands as our naming rights partner for the next five years,” said V8 Supercars CEO James Warburton.

“We are focused on delivering a first class experience for our fans and this is a big win for our fans who fly thousands of kilometres every year across the country.

“Supercars generate $250 million in economic and tourism benefits to the cities and regions we visit in every state and territory and Virgin Australia will play a vital role in continuing to drive this growth.”

“Our airline is a strong supporter of Australian sport and we are very excited to be the naming rights partner of the Virgin Australia Supercars Championship,” added Virgin Australia Group CEO John Borghetti.

“With two million fans attending races in 2015, V8 Supercars is Australia’s third highest attended sport and we look forward to supporting its continued growth.

“As Naming Rights Partner, we will work with Supercars to generate further economic and tourism benefits for communities across Australia, including through the launch of our new Supercars Travel platform.”

Name change set for mid-year

As far as the move away from the V8 name goes, Warburton said the transition from V8 Supercars to Supercars will be completed by July 1.

“V8 engines will always be part of our sport but as we continue to open the door to new manufacturers and different engine configurations as part of the transition to the Gen 2 regulations we believe the time is right to move to Supercars,” he added.