Tasman Motorsport will be known as Sprint Gas Racing for the next three years, after one of Australia's largest suppliers and exporters of automotive LPG/CNG conversion equipment committed to a multi-million dollar deal.
The agreement, the first multi-year naming rights deal in the team's history, sees Tasman move away from its previously successful 'segmented sponsorship' model, and managing director Jeff Grech sees a lot of positives in Sprint Gas' arrival.
“It's absolutely sensational to have a serious naming sponsor on board with Tasman Motorsport,” he said, “The time was right to go to the more traditional naming rights sponsorship arrangement, as Tasman is entering its fifth competitive year, we've shown that we are in it for the long haul, we've got two competitive drivers and our technical programme is improving big time.
"I think we are an attractive business opportunity, which has been reflected in serious competition for space on the car. We've got a new livery, a fresh look and feel with a great long-term sponsor and two fantastic new cars only weeks away. I think the team and the fans should feel pretty good about Tasman's future.”
Sprint Gas replaces Rockstar, which had naming rights on the two Tasman VE Commodores at the final two rounds of the 2007 season, but Grech reveals that the team was fortunate to persuade the newcomer to up its backing.
“All I will say is that Tasman was in deep negotiations with Rockstar, and all was looking good for the relationship to continue in 2008, but they reneged on the deal forcing us to go to market,” he said, “We were really fortunate to already be in talks with Sprint Gas for minor signage on the two Holdens. When the opportunity presented to increase their presence within the team, they jumped at it.
“Sprint Gas has shown through its advertising activity in the marketplace that it is serious about marketing its product. The ability to increase awareness and sales in Australia and New Zealand using Tasman Motorsport helps take their programme to another level.”
![Tasman Motorsport will be backed by Sprint Gas for the next three years [pic credit: Tasman Motorsport]](http://pix.crash.net/thumbs/405599.jpg)
