New commercial manager for FPR V8 team.

Ford Performance Racing [FPR] has announced the appointment of experienced sports marketing expert Nick Murray in the role of commercial manager.

The 32-year old joins the team with impeccable sports marketing credentials, covering as varied a repertoire as tennis, soccer, surfing, cycling, sailing and triathlon. Murray's experience includes major event corporate sponsorship, the marketing of international television rights and an integral role for the delivery of results systems for the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games.

Murray's sports marketing career started with the Australian Open tennis in 1996, when he joined this globally renowned Grand Slam event as a corporate sales executive. By 1998, he had progressed to the role of sponsorship manager.

Later that year, Murray joined IBM working with the world leading computer company's Sydney 2000 Olympics project. Murray was part of IBM's customer relationship team, and had the unenviable task of ensuring that the sports of track and road cycling, soccer), sailing, tennis, triathlon and beach volleyball gained the most accurate, efficient and timely results services possible throughout the Games. This role required direct liaison with the relevant global sporting federations, while also being accountable to SOCOG and the International Olympic Committee for the delivery of these high tech services.

In 2001, Murray joined TWI, the world's largest independent producer of sports television. This company is the television and media arm of global sports management group IMG. Representing Wimbledon, the British Open golf, Australian Open tennis, along with many other events and sporting organisations, Murray was the company's national sales and marketing manager, responsible for television programme sales in Australia, NZ and the Pacific, along with a specific responsibility for the international distribution rights for the ASP - Association of Surfing Professionals.

Now, in 2003, Murray returns to his hometown of Melbourne to head the commercial operations of FPR. This role represents another exciting step for the 32-year old, whose career now accelerates into the top level of Australian motorsport with Prodrive, one of the world's leading motorsport and automotive engineering companies and the parent company of FPR.

"After nearly three years with IMG, I am very excited to be returning to Melbourne and joining Ford Performance Racing," Murray said, "The growth of V8 Supercars in recent years, and the opportunity to join such a dynamic and progressive team, was appealing from the start.

"The combination of Prodrive, Ford and three great drivers in Craig Lowndes, Glenn Seton and David Besnard provides FPR with a great opportunity for success, and I look forward to being part of the team in the coming years."

There is no doubt that Murray's extensive sports marketing, management, corporate sponsorship and media sales experience will become invaluable assets to FPR as the team prepares for major commercial and competitive growth in the future.