WOW re-signs with Team Australia
WOW Sight & Sound signage will also appear on the Team Australia Champ Cars of both Queensland native Will Power and young Frenchman Simon Pagenaud in this year’s Champ Car World Series, which will be highlighted by the Lexmark Indy 300 on the streets of the Gold Coast in October. WOW Sight & Sound will also feature on the Team Australia entry in the two NASCAR Nextel Cup road course events at Sonoma, California (June 24) and Watkins Glen, New York (August 12) to be driven by Australian star Marcos Ambrose and up to eight others.
Today’s announcement, made at the WOW Sight & Sound outlet at Underwood in Brisbane, was applauded on both sides of the Pacific Ocean. WOW Sight & Sound joins other solid Australian brands such as WPS Financial Services, Aussie Vineyards, Qantas and Australian Tourism as partners in the Team Australia program. “We are excited that the team will enjoy the continuing support of WOW Sight & Sound who have decided to return to Team Australia and extended their involvement as a full season sponsor partner along with our other partners of Aussie Vineyards and Wright Patton Shakespeare, " said Team Australia co-owner Craig Gore.
“WOW Sight & Sound joined our V8 Supercar program in 2006 and to have them on board in our Champ Car World Series and NASCAR programs is an important partner relationship for our team. " WOW Sight & Sound Superstores is based out of Queensland, Australia and currently has eight stores in Queensland, one in the Northern Territory and its first store in NSW opening next month. There are plans of further expansion in Australia and New Zealand. The electronic superstore carries a wide range of home entertainment, home office, car audio, mobile phone and communications products. WOW Sight & Sound prides itself on setting the benchmark for the industry by offering a greater selection of brands, product items (over 20,000 per store) and expert knowledge from a team of technically trained staff.
WOW Sight & Sound received its first taste of Champ Car excitement when it was a support sponsor of the two Team Australia entries at last year’s Gold Coast race. “This is a big day for us at WOW Sight & Sound, " stated John Karibalis, National Advertising and Marketing Manager of WOW Sight & Sound. “When the opportunity was presented to the group to increase our involvement with Team Australia we didn’t think twice about it.
“Watching Aussie driver Will Power capture the pole and lead the race at Surfer’s Paradise last year sold me. I’m looking forward to meeting Simon Pagenaud, as I have heard a lot of good things about him. “On the V8 Supercar front we continue our long association with Max Wilson in a fully-branded WOW Racing Falcon prepared by WPS Racing and we cannot wait for the season to get underway in Adelaide next week. “Marcos (Ambrose) is also doing some exciting things in NASCAR and to be a part of his Nextel Cup debut later in the year is going to be a special moment. “It is shaping as a great year. " Team Australia came off of a very successful 2006 Champ Car World Series season with their two car effort with Canadian Alex Tagliani and Australian Will Power who had a combined 16 top-ten finishes, three podiums and one pole.
The two produced an impressive finish in the overall point standings, finishing sixth and eighth respectively. Not only did they have a strong result but, Power took home the Roshfrans Rookie of the Year title along with the Bridgestone Passion for Excellence award. The WOW Falcon turned its first wheel in a test session at Queensland Raceway this week and Wilson was impressive with his times. “We had a very constructive test where we managed to pump out some solid times, " said Wilson. “I have had a long association with WOW and it’s great that I will have the chance to race a fully-backed WOW car this season. I think the car looks great and everyone is working as hard as they can to ensure our results continue to improve this season. " The WOW Racing Falcon will make its 2007 debut at the opening round of the V8 Supercar Championship Series, the Clipsal 500, in Adelaide next week.