All Change at Tasman Motorsport (Merged)

[Sandgroper]

Just read the V8 supercar site (Abbreviated)

Tasman Inner Circle Rum Motorsport has announced that Ron Harrop, the principal of one Australia’s most highly regarded engineering businesses, Harrop Engineering, has joined the team and will take an equity position in its ownership.

Harrop Engineering provides high-performance brakes, suspension and other cutting-edge components to many leading teams in the V8 Supercar Championship Series, and Harrop himself is one of Australian motorsport’s most respected and highly sought-after innovators.

Team part-owner Kevin Murphy said with Tasman Motorsport set to make the transition to a front-running two-car operation in 2005, it was timely to form an association with one of the largest and most successful racing component suppliers in Australia.

Murphy said at the completion of the 2004 season, the team will bid farewell to its home city of Sydney to base itself from the impressive Harrop Engineering facility in the Melbourne suburb of Preston

The complete link if anyone wants to read.
http://www.v8supercars.com.au/news/l...nd=M&gid=13648

[lowndes6]

Tasman Inner Circle Rum Motorsport has announced that Ron Harrop, the principal of one Australia’s most highly regarded engineering businesses, Harrop Engineering, has joined the team and will take an equity position in its ownership.

Harrop Engineering provides high-performance brakes, suspension and other cutting-edge components to many leading teams in the V8 Supercar Championship Series, and Harrop himself is one of Australian motorsport’s most respected and highly sought-after innovators.

Team part-owner Kevin Murphy said with Tasman Motorsport set to make the transition to a front-running two-car operation in 2005, it was timely to form an association with one of the largest and most successful racing component suppliers in Australia.

“This is a definite vote of confidence in the team structure we have in place, and the potential this team has for the future,” he said.

“Ron has been successful in everything he has done and Harrop Engineering has an unmatched reputation in Australia for performance and technical innovation.

“He has worked in and around this category for around 35 years and has had significant input into many of the most historically successful teams.

“He will work closely with our Chief Engineer, Wally Storey, to fully develop the potential of our cars and help us to take the next step to becoming a category front runner.”

Harrop said he had a desire to resume direct involvement in a racing team, and after approaches from several teams chose Tasman Motorsport as the best fit for his company.

“I certainly share the vision they have and see this as an excellent fit for us,” he said. “They need engineering expertise and we can certainly offer that.

“I already have in mind some specific things to look at, and I feel sure we can put some things in place in the short term that will build a long-term competitive foundation.”

Storey said he was looking forward to working alongside Harrop and utilizing the facilities Harrop Engineering offers. “History speaks for itself, doesn’t it,” he said.

“Everyone working in this category knows what Ron and his business bring to any racing team, and the potential to use his facility to innovate is tremendous.”

Murphy said at the completion of the 2004 season, the team will bid farewell to its home city of Sydney to base itself from the impressive Harrop Engineering facility in the Melbourne suburb of Preston.

“It’ll be a sad day for this team to leave Sydney where it was based for so many years as the Lansvale Racing Team,” he said. “But Melbourne is the home of Holden and the mecca of motorsport in this country, so there’s some very strategic advantages in the move south.

“One of the most important of those is Ron’s facility, which contains a race workshop we believe will be ideally suited to the profile and aspirations of the team we are building. Harrop Engineering also has the ability to fabricate on the premises many of the components we use in V8 Supercars, which surely gives us a strategic advantage.”

Murphy said the Sydney-based crew had been informed of the decision and that Tasman Motorsport was doing everything it could to retain its existing staff. “We have a great crew this year, and therefore, want to minimize any disruption,” he said.

“We hope they’ll come with us to kick off a very exciting new phase in this team’s continuing evolution.”

Holden’s Director of Performance Products and Racing, Ray Borrett, welcomed Harrop’s return to a Holden team.

“Ron’s been very good for Holden over the years and I believe this will be a very successful association,” he said.

[aj_308]

so goodbye to sydneys only V8 team. *sighs*

[Sandgroper]

The Rat also looked a sad and sorry state on Sunday with is pitlane interview, Near tears i think. Crompo is believed to have spoken with him and the Rat was to have said the doors are closing on all current teams hear and that he may need to look at other options elseware.

Surely he would be worth a seat someware with his experience?

[Onlooker]

I wonder if they will relocate in melbourne ?

[Sandgroper]

Originally posted by Onlooker
I wonder if they will relocate in melbourne ?

Yup says they are!
They say Melbourne is the home of motorsport i believe!

[Onlooker]

Sorry i didn't read it all, i glazed over at the yarda yarda yarda bit

[louonline]

Jason Bright to FPR!

[V8 Supercars]

Will be a shame in one way for Sydney to lose its only team but on the other hand its going to be better for the team itself running 2 cars next season and beyond.

Hope to see them up closer to the front in '05

[GTRMagic]

If LRT/Tasman utilised the Sydney fanbase the way Dynamik has used their Adelaide base to improve their profile, the Sydney thing would make a lot of sense.

Unfortunately, circumstance seems to have dictated that the team was located here, but did not necessarily embrace the city.

Indeed the Diabetes Australia event at the workshop the week before Bathurst was one of the few publicly announced opportunities to go looking inside the LRT/Tasman facilities.....

Quite what this does to Sydney-domiciled Mr Matthews, who I still think put a lot into the success of the LRT/Tasman campaign this year, is not clear... although I bet it isnt positive

[bestfit]

I think Team Dynamik using the Woomera base was far more successful at raising their profile.

[lowndes6]

Team Kiwi need a driver. Why not hire Radisich. The Kiwi fans would love it. But i would say his asking price would be too much.

[Also a Believer]

FREE would that be too much, Paul openly admitted most doors where closed for him and he may ahve to look elsewhere, dont think hes asking much at all.

[Just Do It!]

Rattie could drive at GRM....where his crash damage bill would make Bargs' Phillip Island crash repair bill look like a lunch for two at McD's