Timmy
New member
Just posted on the V8 Supercars website
Ford stalwart Dick Johnson has declared his Jim Beam Racing team will remain ?true blue? in light of the news that TeamVodafone will switch from Falcons to Commodores next year.
TeamVodafone?s engineering arm ? Triple Eight Racing ? prepares the FG Falcons for Jim Beam Racing along with Wilson Security Racing.
Triple Eight will continue to supply parts to both Ford and Holden teams next year but it will focus development solely on the Commodore, leaving the Jim Beam team in a quandary.
Johnson began his racing career in a Holden, but has remained loyal to the Blue Oval for decades, even after the company pulled its sponsorship money from the team last year.
When questioned whether he would follow TeamVodafone to Holden next year, Johnson replied: ?Could you imagine what would happen if I did that??
?You?ve got to be kidding me. No, you can let them all know out there that I am not going anywhere,? he said with a smile.
?I?ve always been loyal to sponsors, to fans and certainly to whatever brand I?m in for many, many years and I?m not one to change quickly.?
Jim Beam Racing?s Facebook page has been flooded with messages of support since the news of TeamVodafone?s manufacturer switch and Johnson said traffic for the team?s official website had also increased.
?Our website?s always fairly busy, particularly in the last few days,? he said.
?Fans are fans, you know? They react in different ways and to me they?re a very important part of what we?re here for. I think it was to be expected that they?d react in that manner.?
Johnson believes the team?s supporter base has increased somewhat, and that fellow Ford teams like Stone Brothers Racing, Ford Performance Racing (FPR) and Wilson Security Racing would have also seen a surge.
?Some fans support the brand; others support the individuals and because we?ve had such a long career and our team?s the longest established team, obviously we?re going to get a lot of support and we?ll cater for it as it comes along.?
Besides Johnson?s longstanding commitment to Ford, it also helps that Jim Beam Racing has been the best performing Ford team besides TeamVodafone.
Jim Beam Racing sits third on the team?s Championship and driver Steve Johnson sits fifth on the driver Championship points table while teammate James Courtney followed up his win at Townsville with a podium result at the Norton 360 Sandown Challenge last Saturday.
Ford stalwart Dick Johnson has declared his Jim Beam Racing team will remain ?true blue? in light of the news that TeamVodafone will switch from Falcons to Commodores next year.
TeamVodafone?s engineering arm ? Triple Eight Racing ? prepares the FG Falcons for Jim Beam Racing along with Wilson Security Racing.
Triple Eight will continue to supply parts to both Ford and Holden teams next year but it will focus development solely on the Commodore, leaving the Jim Beam team in a quandary.
Johnson began his racing career in a Holden, but has remained loyal to the Blue Oval for decades, even after the company pulled its sponsorship money from the team last year.
When questioned whether he would follow TeamVodafone to Holden next year, Johnson replied: ?Could you imagine what would happen if I did that??
?You?ve got to be kidding me. No, you can let them all know out there that I am not going anywhere,? he said with a smile.
?I?ve always been loyal to sponsors, to fans and certainly to whatever brand I?m in for many, many years and I?m not one to change quickly.?
Jim Beam Racing?s Facebook page has been flooded with messages of support since the news of TeamVodafone?s manufacturer switch and Johnson said traffic for the team?s official website had also increased.
?Our website?s always fairly busy, particularly in the last few days,? he said.
?Fans are fans, you know? They react in different ways and to me they?re a very important part of what we?re here for. I think it was to be expected that they?d react in that manner.?
Johnson believes the team?s supporter base has increased somewhat, and that fellow Ford teams like Stone Brothers Racing, Ford Performance Racing (FPR) and Wilson Security Racing would have also seen a surge.
?Some fans support the brand; others support the individuals and because we?ve had such a long career and our team?s the longest established team, obviously we?re going to get a lot of support and we?ll cater for it as it comes along.?
Besides Johnson?s longstanding commitment to Ford, it also helps that Jim Beam Racing has been the best performing Ford team besides TeamVodafone.
Jim Beam Racing sits third on the team?s Championship and driver Steve Johnson sits fifth on the driver Championship points table while teammate James Courtney followed up his win at Townsville with a podium result at the Norton 360 Sandown Challenge last Saturday.
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