Navy and Ford Performance Racing Announce Exciting Scheme
30 November 2011
The Royal Australian Navy and Ford Performance Racing (FPR) have joined forces to support and grow the next generation of Marine Technicians through two key initiatives announced at HMAS Waterhen.
FPR’s Development Series driver Chaz Mostert will drive a special car in the final meet of the season, this weekend’s Sydney Telstra 500. The race car has been prepared in RAN livery with the special number of 100 for this one race.
Head of Navy Engineering, Rear Admiral Michael Uzzell also announced a five-year agreement between Navy and FPR for a unique outplacement scheme which will see two Marine Technical sailors work with the factory Ford outfit for the next five seasons, beginning in 2012.
The scheme was offered to Navy by FPR and will be used to develop the technical skills of our MT sailors.
Ford Performance Racing Principal Tim Edwards said it was an honour for FPR to work closely with the Navy on two great initiatives which will help develop the next generation of leaders.
“I am proud the Navy has accepted our offer to place two mechanics within our team each year for the next five years. Not only will they provide valuable assistance as we transition to Car of the Future, but I am sure our team will learn valuable skills from them as well,” Mr Edwards said.
Image Gallery
View images of the FPR/Navy V8 Supercar on the Royal Australian Navy Media Library.
Today at HMAS Waterhen, Ford Performance Racing and Navy are combining to reveal one of the FPR cars which will race this weekend at the Telstra 500 in Sydney.
In a year in which we are celebrating the 100th anniversary of the granting of the title Royal Australian Navy, we are very pleased to be in partnership with FPR, showcasing our identity through this very fine motor vehicle. When the car is unveiled you will notice that the race car is numbered 100 as a special recognition of the significance the centenary of conferring the title Royal.
Chaz Mostert, driving for FPR in the Fujitsu Series will be behind the wheel of the Navy branded car this weekend. Chaz is a very exciting young racing prospect. In his first appearance for FPR at Sandown recently, Chaz achieved two second place finishes out of three races in the Fujitsu V8 Supercar Series, and his first ever V8SC round podium finishing 3rd behind Andrew Thompson and Jack Perkins.
And speaking about supporting our best young prospects, today we are excited to announce another initiative which is being entered into by Navy and Ford Performance Racing.
The race at the Sydney Olympic Park street circuit represents the final event of the 2011 V8 Supercar racing season but it also heralds the beginning of an association between Navy and Ford Performance Racing that will endure for the next five years.
I am very pleased to announce the establishment of an outplacement scheme for Navy mechanics, (we call them Marine Technical sailors), to work as members of the FPR maintenance support crew throughout the 2012 V8 Supercar season.
Behind any successful V8 race car is a highly focussed and close knit team capable of working under pressure with high technology equipment to win in demanding environments. There are direct parallels between the work of a V8 Supercar team and the expectations we have of our Marine Technical sailors in meeting Navy’s mission of being able to fight and win at sea.
The purpose of this initiative is to expose two of our sailors each year to these environments and share experiences as Navy builds its own technical excellence.
I want to thank Tim Edwards from Ford Performance Racing, Mr Damon Hill from Signature Series Group and LCDR Don Hogarth for providing the opportunity for our technical sailors to gain some unique experiences which we will expect them to pass on when they return to Navy.
blog comments powered by Disqus
