Morris And Sailor Celebrate New V8 Supercar-Rugby Partnership
28/1/2004 3:13 (Press Release) -
Sirromet Wines Holden Commodore driver Paul Morris and his V8 Supercar team today celebrated the start of a new partnership with the high-profile Bank of Queensland Reds rugby union team featuring
Wallaby star Wendell Sailor.
Morris will promote the Reds, who Sailor plays for, throughout the 2004 V8 Supercar season by racing with the Queensland team's logos on his VY Commodore.
The partnership is aimed to market a new 'Queensland Reds' wine launched today by Morris' principal sponsor Sirromet at its base at Mount Cotton, between Brisbane and the Gold Coast.
Sailor, who played in the 2003 Rugby World Cup final against England,
was joined at today's launch by fellow-Reds and Australian Test players Fletcher Dyson and Daniel Heenan, Queensland coach Jeff Miller, and Morris, who had his Commodore on display with the new signage. Also present was Queensland Deputy Premier, Treasurer, and Minister for Sport the Hon Terry Mackenroth.
"The aim is to cross-promote the wine at the various V8 Supercar races around Australia, and New Zealand," said Morris.
"I'm told some of the Reds players follow V8 Supercars, so we're hopeful of taking them for a few 'hot laps' (as passengers) in the car later in the year."
"Rugby union is a good sport to get involved with - I watched Australia play in the World Cup on television and it's a game that's going places."
Morris will race with the Reds signage for the first time in support
events at the Australian Formula One Grand Prix in Melbourne from March 5-7, and then in the following 13-round V8 Supercar Championship, which includes the Bathurst 1000.
The 36-year-old said he had a limited past association with rugby union, although in the 1990s he gave one of Australia's greatest players, ex-Wallaby David Campese, driving lessons at the Holden Performance Driving Centre, where his team is now based.
"From what I remember he (Campese) was a quick learner behind the
wheel," said Morris. "I played some rugby when I was at school, but I
wasn't very good at it."
The 'Queensland Reds' wine is made from 100-percent Queensland fruit and is a Bordeaux-style red blend comprising Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot.
"A red wine for the Queensland Reds is a fantastic idea," said Sailor.
"Hopefully the fans will be opening plenty of bottles to celebrate a
successful season for the Reds."
"This wine is Queensland born and bred so it's got to be a winner! I
like the Sirromet V8 - it's a sharp looking race car and those cars
sound great."
Morris said he would begin the new season driving the same Commodore,
fitted with a Holden Motorsport engine, in which he completed 2003.
"We will be doing one test day at Queensland Raceway in mid-February as a shakedown and get ready for Melbourne," said Morris. "It's good to be going into the season with a settled package and a fully-sorted car. We are learning all the time how to make improvements."
The Deputy Premier praised the QRU and Sirromet for their initiative in teaming up to produce the Queensland Reds wine.
"Congratulations to both Sirromet Wines and the Queensland Reds," he
said. "The (Peter) Beattie Government is a great supporter of the
Queensland wine industry. The Premier serves Queensland wine and beer at functions nationally and internationally."
The Queensland Reds start their Super 12 campaign with a match against the Otago Highlanders from New Zealand in Invercargill on February 20.
The series is contested by the Reds, New South Wales Waratahs, and the A.C.T. Brumbies from Australia, plus five provincial teams from New Zealand, and four from South Africa.
Before the Super 12 starts, the Reds will compete in the Southern Cross Series, with their first game against the Brumbies at Ballymore on January 31.
Release Date: 20/01/2004
Paul Morris Motorsport (Sirromet Wines)
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