V8 SUPERCAR team Tasman Motorsport has today unveiled its marketing, brand and sponsorship program for the 2006 V8 Supercar Championship Series.

Among the new initiatives is a livery that will feature different companies for different rounds throughout the championship, the addition of a 'Tiger' as team brand and a new website in partnership with market leaders, Sportal.

The innovative program was initiated in September last year by Tasman's commercial arm DSEG; charged with the responsibility of growing the team's commercial division. 

The program underpins the team's strategy to reinvest in its ongoing technical development program. The team has made a significant impact both on and off the track, aiming to eventually match it with the best funded teams in V8 Supercar racing.

Managing Director Kevin Murphy said the team has had wonderful success with the new approach, based on a successful trend in American NASCAR racing whereby sponsors 'share' the backing of a race team.

"Companies that don't have the multi-million dollar budgets for motorsport have been given an opportunity to take a strong brand position that supports a product launch or activity in a particular market," he explained.

Tasman today unveiled one of its signings in the new program - Australia's largest steel producers, Smorgon Steel and its recycling division.

Smorgon Steel's logo adorns the flanks of the Tasman Motorsport Holden Commodores as released today by the team.

While the base livery of the striking black and orange cars will remain, the spaces on the flanks, front spoilers and rear boot face of the cars will change, dependent on the major partner for that round. 

A sponsor for the Clipsal 500 in Adelaide and Australian Grand Prix support races a week later in April has been signed. Details will be announced in due course.

The team will feature up to six sponsors as the season progresses. Further sponsorships have been signed and others are in the processes of final negotiation. They will be announced and unveiled as the season progresses.

The Tiger integration includes the addition of figures including Richmond AFL star Matthew Richardson and basketball legend Andrew Gaze as Team Ambassadors.

The team's new-look website (www.tasmanmotorsport.com) was launched today with coming attractions including tipping competitions, fans polls, screensavers and wallpapers, forums, fan competitions and a brand new V8 Supercars preview show. 

Anyone that signs up for the team newsletter between now and the Pukekohe round in New Zealand (April 23) will go into a draw to win a hot lap with Jason Richards in his #3 Tasman V8 Supercar.

Sportal's CEO, Chris Mutimer said the company was enthusiastic about its partnership with Tasman Motorsport.

"We are well aligned with our vision on the substantial benefits that new media assets can bring to a racing team," he said.

Sportal has created the site for Tasman as part of a new long-term relationship and is

Australia's leading provider of sports websites, mobile telephone sport products, and on-line sports content. 

Established in Australia in 1999, Sportal has designed and produced many of Australia and New Zealand's leading sports sites including the AFL network, All Blacks, Cricket Australia, NBL, World Swimming Championships, Australasian PGA Tour, Australian Open Tennis, A-League and Nine's Wide World of Sports.

Having had a break-through season in 2005 with podium results at the Sandown 500 and Bathurst 1000, Tasman foundation driver Jason Richards says that the team - armed with its late season turn of speed - is ready to hit the ground running for the first round in Adelaide on March 23-26.

"We have exactly the same staff as last year, who have worked hard in the off-season on further refining our cars and engines, which we produce in-house," said the Melbourne-based Kiwi.

"2005 was certainly a break-out year for us. We belong among the top echelon of teams in V8 Supercar racing and our performances in the second part of last season more than reflected that. The endurance race results last year were fantastic, but in 2006 we are expecting success on a regular basis throughout the year.

"The championship is very difficult but we've adopted a simple strategy which has proven to be very effective so far. We're definitely ready to take the next step."

Tasman's new signing Andrew Jones will join Richards, driving the #23 Commodore.

The team has retained strong backing from Holden, Fuchs, PPG, Harrop Engineering, Lansvale Smash Repairs and Iscar and has welcomed new partners in Smorgon Steel, HSV, Sportal, Classic Carlectables, Challenge Interiors and MQ. Other partners are to be launched throughout the series.

Richards and Jones will test their new-look Commodores at Winton in Victoria on March 13 and 14 in a two day session.