HSV Racing / PWR Racing the rumours and facts

[Archer]

There is a lot of rumour and speculation about the re-branding of PWR Racing to HSV Racing. My apologies if this has been discussed earlier in other threads, but the alligations are so big now that the story had front-page headlines on both of Australia’s top selling motorsport tabloids, so I thought it might be best if we chewed this out in its own thread.

Lets start with the story. Crennin wants back into V8 Supercars, he wants back the level of involvement in a team he had with the TWR Australia teams before the break-up into Team Skaife and Team Kelly.

Crennin has even been rumoured to be discussing various options of a come back tour of TWR Australia. Unlikely as this is, Crennin’s solo comeback tour so far has much more substance.

I want to give my opinion now before I go any further. I do not believe that any of this will go forward. I do not believe that Holden would allow a clash of branding and confusion among fans. However, I am nervous in saying that because under my coffee table there lies Motorsport News No. 264 August 20 – September 2 2003, it was a bright yellow cover remember? Remember what the headline was? “New Holden Superteam targets 2005 – and Jason Bright?”

This clearly states that there was an intention of doing this and plans in the works as far back as Oran Park last year.

So lets go through the latest, the Kees Weel purchase of Dencar, the move to bigger premises, PWR staff poaching, PWR’s latest HSV supercharger project. Although I still don’t believe any plans for HSV Racing will come into fruition, there are goings on, you have to admit that.

Apparently as soon as Hidden Valley, or if not towards the end of the year or early next year, we will see more black on the PWR cars and big H@SV decals where the PWR ones now reside. On another forum there is also rumour of the signing of a new driver, as I understand it PWR still holds three franchises so make of that what you will.

I believe we will see status quo. But chances are mounting towards a three car HSV Racing outfit with massive funding in a bid to take the mantle as Holdens flagship team.

Thoughts?

[Gudgeon]

Archer
Your arrow has hit the bullseye what you say makes sense Craig Lowndes to be the third driver boosting merchandise sales .After all it was John Crennan who bought Craig into V8s rescuing him from a rather ordinary sojourn in openwheelers in Europe I would live to get a bet on this happening.
Kees Weel is no dummy and has a way of succeeding in all his business ventures

[Vee8]

Okay, the facts as we know them:

- Kees Weel owns PWR Racing, PWR Performance Products and Dencar. He has also bought the former Fred Gibson workshop in Dandenong for the stated purpose of setting up a southern base for PWR Performance Products.

- Ex-SBR man Mark Roworth has joined PWR (Racing and Performance Products) as Marketing and Business Development Manager.

- Jason Bright's contract expires at the end of this year, while Paul Weel's contract arrangements are unknown but unlikely to change.

- Kees Weel has owned a third and unwanted franchise slot, a L2, this year. Whether he still owns this is unknown.

- PWR Racing has received sponsorship dollars from HSV this year - as has Clayton neighbour Kmart Racing.

- PWR Performance Products has been working with Holden and HSV on a line of go-fast products to be marketed through HSV, and is working on hot versions of current Holden or HSV vehicles.

- PWR Racing have been quick to sort their racing cars and look to be among the premier Holden teams in 2004.

The rumours:

- That John Crennan wants to control a team again.

- That Tom Walkinshaw - who still owns HSV - wants to own a team again.

- That members of the Clayton enclave are dissatisfied with Weel's recent acquisitions.

Put it all together and what do you have? A bunch of facts and rumours. Conspiracy theorists will say it all points to a done deal, rational analysts will say it all means nothing.

What seems beyond doubt is that the entity - whether known as PWR Racing, HSV Racing or something entirely different - is developing a pretty strong foundation off the track and starting to put together some good results on it. The future looks good!

[GMS144]

He was also there when Craig parted company with HRT!!

Originally posted by Gudgeon
Archer
Your arrow has hit the bullseye what you say makes sense Craig Lowndes to be the third driver boosting merchandise sales .After all it was John Crennan who bought Craig into V8s rescuing him from a rather ordinary sojourn in openwheelers in Europe I would live to get a bet on this happening.
Kees Weel is no dummy and has a way of succeeding in all his business ventures

[Trevor P]

I just hope they change that horrible white and orange colour scheme!
TP

[Ric Wilson]

Originally posted by Trevor P
I just hope they change that horrible white and orange colour scheme!
TP

I'm told the proposed black color scheme looks good.

[dangeradam]

HSV jumps off the bandwagon that is slowing down leaps towards the one that is going faster...

Or am i just really jaded ???

[Ric Wilson]

Makes a lot of sense to me.
1.HRT sponsored by Holden
2.HSVR sponsored by HSV

[Big Voice]

Just to clarify a point ..hasn't Mark Roworth boughta percentage of the team ??

[pete55]

Another small point, Paul not Kees owns PWR Performance Products.

[Vee8]

Originally posted by pete55
Another small point, Paul not Kees owns PWR Performance Products.

Actually, Pete, Kees recently sold off his business, K+J Thermal, and has taken an equity position in PWR Performance Products. He is listed as a co-owner of the business.

And Big Voice, I have heard that Roworth's package includes equity, but cannot confirm this 100%.

[davedave]

I'll throw in another senirio - wasn't it oran park that Brock threatened to walk out of TEAM BROCK ?If Mr Crenan was to be involved in 2005 it may explain Brock shock decison to leave the team early.I would think there would be no chance of Lowndes going back and working for John Crenan ever again !

[GTRMagic]

Is it just me or is there an echo in here?

[tiko]

Do HSV still sponsor James Brock in the Brute series?
also
what are the meanings of the sayings under the HSV logos on both PWR cars and KRT cars? "No Vanilla" "The BIZ" "Choice Aye" etc.

[pete55]

I thought a young fellow like you would know that tiko.

[Good Old Bazza]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by tiko
[B]Do HSV still sponsor James Brock in the Brute series?

No HSV or Holden Stickers on the Team Brock BRutes this year, although this is more than likely due too James not racing either of them!

[GTRMagic]

You still seem to be missing the point... only the teams currently receiving works support (i.e. engines, whole cars, components etc) from Holden Motor Sport has an HSV logo on it, ergo it is not unreasonable to conclude that the supply of HMS equipment to each of these teams (which are HRT, KRT, PWR & Tasman!) is the reason the HSV logo appears.

Nothing newly exciting there I dont think.

As for the slogans surrounding the HSV branding on these cars, well "Choice Aye" "No Vanilla" and "The Biz" should be reasonably obvious.... attempting to explain in a language other than the Queen's english, that the cars are suited for a particular purpose, better than others on the road, and arent boreing, pedestrian and mainstream

(Whew! I sounded like a marketer for a second )

As for the rest of it, well Dandenong is more than likely the new hone for PWR, and potentially some other projects in the near future, despite all the denials and noise. As ever, we shall see.

[Archer]

Any one else have Motorsport News No. 264? I suggest you read it.

[Ric Wilson]

Not sure if I like the silver on black, reminds me of the old 00 cars

[Vee8]

Originally posted by Ric Wilson
Not sure if I like the silver on black, reminds me of the old 00 cars

What have the WPS cars got to do with the current conversation?

And don't try to tell me that these are the colours of your so-called HSV Racing. That team - and any colour scheme other than the current orange-and-white configuration - exist only in your very vivid imagination.

[Ric Wilson]

Originally posted by Vee8
What have the WPS cars got to do with the current conversation?

And don't try to tell me that these are the colours of your so-called HSV Racing. That team - and any colour scheme other than the current orange-and-white configuration - exist only in your very vivid imagination.

Not long to wait vee8. These are only early sketches(and I don't even know if they are official) sent to me from a Clayton email address

[Mattracer]

The latest TV ads for Holden's VY Commodore "Equipe" model feature Mark Sakife in school teacher mode and promotes Holden and a "baser" model in their lineup. No HSV in sight.

HSV re-aligning the marketing to a purer racing-based mantra and agenda seems consistent with "Motorsport News" synopsis that HRT is more aligned with Holden and takes the majority of body panel space, the colour red and marketing.

[Grimace]

Originally posted by GMS144
He was also there when Craig parted company with HRT!!

Could you see Craig/Nat joining again with Crennan and Walkinshaw who made

Craig aware that his personal sponsorship terms that would not be cancelled(it was alleged)when he went to Ford.

It was a very stressful time for the Lowndes'duo -that last few months at HRT the atmosphere was terrible

Craig went off the radar -out of sight, remember, Nat was handling all his press-not pleasant times

its just some of those same players again!!!

back under a different team-

I cannot seriously see the Lowndes' contracted to these people again!!!

He has better options with SBR or other Ford teams DJR/888 based in Queensland)

Would he be happy working under Kees Weel/Crennan and Walkinshaw?..... Or SBR with Ross and Jimmy Stone

[1200Datto27]

Mattracer,

I also noticed that the No. 1 has disappeared off of the back of his racesuit (mentioned in the Pukehoe forum)

[Just Do It!]

So it ruddy well should!