Fluid systems company PIRTEK has agreed a deal with V8 Supercars for the naming rights to its Enduro Cup for the next four years.
The PIRTEK Enduro Cup will be awarded to the V8 Supercar driver and co-driver combination with the most points scored over the course of the three endurance events – the Sandown 500 in September and the Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000 and Armor All Gold Coast 600 in October.
Announced earlier this year after V8 Supercars called time on the compulsory international driver rule at the Gold Coast 600, the three-event competition is the first time the three V8 Supercar endurance races will be drawn into their own Championship-within-a-Championship.
“The iconic Sandown 500 and Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000 have been amongst the most prestigious sporting events in Australia for 50 years,” said V8 Supercars chief executive James Warburton.
“Last year we announced the Armor All Gold Coast 600 would join them in the Enduro Cup.
“With its wonderful heritage in motorsport, it’s fantastic to be able to announce that Pirtek will assume the naming rights for the Pirtek Enduro Cup.”
PIRTEK has had a long association with Australian motorsport and currently sponsors Casey Stoner in the Dunlop Series and winner Nick Percat in the Porsche Carrera Cup. It was also the naming rights sponsor of Marcos Ambrose’s famous championship wins in 2003 and 2004.
Australian artist James Corbett has been commissioned to design and create a trophy from original PIRTEK fittings and other raw materials.
Corbett has been sculpting life-like pieces from old car parts since 1999 and was given a brief for the trophy to represent “the qualities of endurance, reliability, precision and teamwork”.
“The majority of my pieces are made from old car parts and some of those have been up to 80 years old,” said Corbett.
“When PIRTEK approached me about this project I thought it would be a terrific challenge and something different I could really enjoy.
“PIRTEK have given me a pile of their fittings to work with and it is my job to create an iconic Australian sporting trophy, which will also be appreciated as a piece of art – it certainly won’t be something you can buy off the shelf.”
A solid media and social media program is being created which will allow fans and the teams that will be fighting for the trophy to watch its build process.
It is envisaged that the trophy will be completed in time for an official unveiling in the lead-up to the Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000 in early October.
