V8 Supercar teams will honour the passing of former Ford boss Geoff Polites this weekend by incorporating black ovals bearing the word 'Geoff' into race car liveries at round four of the championship in Perth.
The voluntary act was made available to all V8 Supercar teams by Ford Australia, and Stone Brothers Racing has kindly printed decals via its in-house facility for all those who wish to participate. General guidelines have suggested teams position the black oval on the rear quarter panel to promote a consistent message, however differing liveries will see teams accommodate the oval where possible.
"Geoff Polites played an integral part in the development of Ford Australia's role in V8 Supercars," Ray Price said, "It is certainly fitting for V8 Supercar teams to have the opportunity to show their respect for a man who was heavily involved in the sport.
"Sydney Swans players were able to show their respect for [former team manager] Geoff by wearing black arm bands during a match, and these black oval decals are a way our sport can display a similar sentiment at the first race event since Geoff's unfortunate passing.
"Geoff meant a great deal to many people in the V8 Supercar industry, and he helped shaped the Ford careers of talents such as Marcos Ambrose and Craig Lowndes - in fact, he was the mastermind behind bringing 'the kid' over from the red side. His impact will never be forgotten."
Polites recently lost his battle with cancer, returning from overseas to be with his family for the birth of his first grandchild before his health deteriorated and he passed away in Melbourne. In his time at Ford Australia, he had a major involvement in V8 Supercars and was responsible for the development of various champions, including current NASCAR Nationwide Series star Ambrose.
