The following is a statement from Team Australia's Craig Gore, following ongoing statements and accusations in the media from his former partner Derrick Walker.
This statement, while long, is a detailed list of events in chronological order regarding the history of the Team Australia programme. With Walker threatening future legal proceedings [see separate story –
click here], this will be the final comment Gore will be making on this issue.
‘Team Australia was created by Kevin Kalkhoven and myself in San Francisco in late 2004 as a result of wanting to run David Besnard's single Champ Car race in Surfers Paradise that year. [It was] not [created] by Derrick Walker as he has publicly stated.
‘We ran the 2004 Surfers Paradise race with Walker Racing at the request of Kevin Kalkhoven. Kevin's generosity continued when he requested I form a JV agreement with Derrick Walker because he was about to shut his doors. Kevin felt it best for the series and Walker Racing if we formed a partnership.
‘Kevin Kalkhoven contributed on that basis alone. It must be Team Australia. I discussed this with Derrick Walker and he agreed. We created GORE FISH WALKER LLC.
‘All sponsorship, funding and acquisition costs, development funding and marketing of the Team Australia brand and team during our entire tenor has been borne by myself, sponsors I provided, CCWS owners' companies and Kevin Kalkhoven.
‘Not at any time did Derrick Walker and/or Walker Racing or anyone associated with him provide any permanent funding to the team, the branding of Team Australia or any other form of funding required for the team. This amounts to more than $20 million USD over a three-year period.
