Cat leaves FPR........??

retro · 6 Nov 2006, 00:55 (Ref:1758613)

Quote:

FPR and Caterpillar to part ways at the completion of 2006 season

Exceler8 · 6 Nov 2006, 01:00 (Ref:1758616)

what a suprise
and it appears that cat dont like steven richards

**GTRMagic** · 6 Nov 2006, 01:07 (Ref:1758617)

What a curious release

Kind of says "dont let the door hit you on the rear on the way out"

I wonder if CAT shall return to V8Supercar in 2007

There are options of course... like title branding on former CAT driver Mr Bowe at PCR... or soon to be former CAT driver Mr Bright at Britek... or one that came from left field but was dismissed was an association with BJR as title sponsor to one of their cars as well...

Pro Racer · 6 Nov 2006, 03:17 (Ref:1758654)

mmmmmmm interesting but has been up in the air for most of the year.

woodbine · 6 Nov 2006, 03:33 (Ref:1758660)

This is the bit I like:

Quote:

It was an extremely difficult decision for FPR to part with the CAT team

So it wasn't that CAT decided not to continue with their sponsorship; FPR dropped them

Pro Racer · 6 Nov 2006, 03:37 (Ref:1758662)

maybe the reason they dumped CAT was because Orrcon isn't just comming to sponser #5 they are going to sponser #6 as well and might be putting more money in than what CAT did.

if thats not the case who in their right mind would dump a sponser

.

Cochise · 6 Nov 2006, 03:57 (Ref:1758670)

Quote:

Originally Posted by pwr fan

maybe the reason they dumped CAT was because Orrcon isn't just comming to sponser #5 they are going to sponser #6 as well and might be putting more money in than what CAT did.

if thats not the case who in their right mind would dump a sponser

.

FPR dumped CAT?

That's not how I read it.

I hear CAT has been unhappy at FPR for quite some time and used the lack of driver confirmation as their 'out'.

CAT would have known FPR's situation in regards to confirming it's 07' driver and I'm sure would have understood the commercial considerations FPR would be dealing with.

As far as Orccon goes, FPR would certainly be a much higher profile association than their recent ventures in V8's, but I'd also suggest that it would be a sizeable increase in their sponsorship to get naming rights to Ford's factory team.

Pro Racer · 6 Nov 2006, 04:11 (Ref:1758675)

Cochise it wasn't me who sugested it read the post above mine.

and then you read the next paragraph and i sugests other wise confusing.

RotorFan · 6 Nov 2006, 04:36 (Ref:1758684)

Thats a shame - there goes the only good looking Ford Falcon in the series!

Timu · 6 Nov 2006, 06:21 (Ref:1758696)

So this means Britek may have the budget (providing his links with the Cat boss are still tight) to run 2 cars next year?

Perhaps either a #25 Cat #26 Fujitsu arrangement, or maybe both sponsors on the same car?

woodbine · 6 Nov 2006, 06:31 (Ref:1758698)

Yes it was me that picked out that sentence from their press release; but only to highlight the wonders of their PR baloney.

Chatters · 6 Nov 2006, 06:49 (Ref:1758704)

Also says that FPR have signed their new driver, could suggest something *cough* Richo *cough*.

Seems we will have to put up with ugly Orrcon cars again.

Big_Red_Bronco · 6 Nov 2006, 07:03 (Ref:1758709)

I know that when CAT first entered the game, years ago, they were trying to set up sponsorship on a holden, but no top teams were available.
Perhaps they have found a holden that is happy to take their money. They were very unhappy to be stuck on a ford originally.

Chatters · 6 Nov 2006, 07:25 (Ref:1758717)

That suggests Tasman... I can't think of any other Holden teams without a sponsor for next year (assuming Supercheap Auto remain)...

retro · 6 Nov 2006, 07:25 (Ref:1758718)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Big_Red_Bronco

I know that when CAT first entered the game, years ago, they were trying to set up sponsorship on a holden, but no top teams were available.
Perhaps they have found a holden that is happy to take their money. They were very unhappy to be stuck on a ford originally.

This was something that crossed my mind...

Nado · 6 Nov 2006, 07:39 (Ref:1758724)

Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo! I hope the CAT logo stays on a Ford. Britek is good.

Raglanparade · 6 Nov 2006, 07:43 (Ref:1758726)

Well maybe Mr Murphy at Tasman was a big enough name driver at a Holden team to lure them away.

CAT/Fuchs Tasman Commodore.

mayhem · 6 Nov 2006, 09:27 (Ref:1758823)

There was speculation a few years ago that HRT were close to getting CAT's cash. Wouldn't be bad if it happened, whenever they put black paint or wheels on the HRT cars they go like busteds.

Pro Racer · 6 Nov 2006, 09:37 (Ref:1758834)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Raglanparade

Well maybe Mr Murphy at Tasman was a big enough name driver at a Holden team to lure them away.

CAT/Fuchs Tasman Commodore.

mmmm maybe that as aparetly DODO are the ones that are going to front the cash at HRT.

Rombles1 · 6 Nov 2006, 11:20 (Ref:1758915)

Face it, there is already a big cat painted on the side of the Tasman cars.... a tiger is a cat, after all!

davester · 6 Nov 2006, 12:16 (Ref:1758957)

Unless CAT are going to another "factory team" (there is only one other), then it is a very GUTSY move for them. Considering how long it takes the best budgeted teams to get competitive (never happens overnight), if their not going to HRT/HSV, SBR, 888, they better expect a lean period.

What FPR have done on the track, and yes it took a while, is what very few actually achieve...the ability to challenge for wins. I wouldn't expect Britek to rise to this level for a while, look where they are now, look where they have been all along...If Brighty could change it that quick then as team owner he has done his existing Britek sponsors a dis-service this year by condemning them to the back rows.

I hope CAT see the light, not the bright, and stay where their premium brand belongs...at the factory (which ever one that is).

Pro Racer · 6 Nov 2006, 14:27 (Ref:1759053)

Quote:

In July, Caterpillar advised FPR that the company had decided against exercising its option to continue as the naming rights sponsor of the number 6 Falcon, as the team could not confirm its driver line-up for 2007 at that time.

i don't know if anybody finds this a bit fishy,Bright announced he was going to his own team in late june early july (from memory could be wrong),and now nobody could line up a 'big name' driver (as CAT wanted) that quick and whats it matter if the driver was announced or not as long as you know who you are getting (which FPR didn't know at that point) but even in september when this driver signed *cough* Richo *cough*,and FPR told CAT they didn't worry about it,so this reason "as the team could not confirm its driver line-up for 2007 at that time" is a bit of BS i think they were going to another team at that time *cough* Britek *cough* IMO.

inpitlane · 6 Nov 2006, 15:17 (Ref:1759090)

Don't be too suprised if CAT doesn't pop up again next year on another make. There's some people at CAT who have very strong ties now with at least one of the major Holden teams and if things go according to plan they might be back as a secondary sponsor in return for a young driver now in Formula Ford getting at least a substantial test or long distance role.

retro · 6 Nov 2006, 15:43 (Ref:1759102)

link

krypto71 · 6 Nov 2006, 16:35 (Ref:1759150)

Quote:

Originally Posted by mayhem

There was speculation a few years ago that HRT were close to getting CAT's cash. Wouldn't be bad if it happened, whenever they put black paint or wheels on the HRT cars they go like busteds.

I think it was closer to being a 2003 Caterpiller PWR Holden, with Brighty aboard.

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