MEDIA RELEASE 23 August 2012
Valvoline and AutoTrader Join Tasman Motorsports Group
Tasman Motorsports Group (TMG) has announced that AutoTrader.co.nz and Valvoline will be partnering the team as they enter the upcoming V8 SuperTourer endurance championship.
Autotrader.co.nz is the leading car website to buy or sell a car in New Zealand providing thousands of car listings, car
news, reviews and videos, plus finance and insurance quotes.
Valvoline, a division of Ashland Inc, serves more than 100 countries worldwide and is a leading marketer, distributor
and producer of quality branded automotive and industrial products and services.
TMG Team Principal Steve Horne says he is excited with having AutoTrader.co.nz and Valvoline join the team.
“Both AutoTrader and Valvoline are big brands here in the New Zealand automotive industry. I personally have had a long
association with Valvoline in CanAm and Indy Car racing in the US including winning the Indy 500 in 1986 with Valvoline
backing,” says Horne.
“AutoTrader is a brand everyone is familiar with and has forever been the platform associated with buying and selling
cars.”
Valvoline New Zealand General Manager, David Olliff says Valvoline’s association with motorsport is part of its
heritage. The brand has a strong presence in national and international motorsport events and this is an opportunity to
increase that with their new local partnership with TMG.
“Racing is in Valvoline’s DNA and we’re proud to be able to partner again with Steve Horne, and this time with Tasman
Motorsports Group in their next chapter of racing here in New Zealand. Steve and his team run a very professional
operation and are the perfect ambassadors for the Valvoline brand,” says Olliff.
Terry Williams-King, Group Sales Manager of TraderGroup says AutoTrader is delighted to be partnering Tasman Motorsports
Group in conjunction with the AutoTrader.co.nz brand.
“There is huge interest in motorsport in New Zealand, and we look forward to working with TMG who share our passion for
cars. The partnership gives us the opportunity to connect with our consumers and dealers via a fun filled entertainment
experience. The various race meetings around NZ offer AutoTrader an excellent setting for delivering an effective
marketing platform and unique customer experiences to enjoy an engrained kiwi experience of a day at the track,” says
Williams-King.
“We look forward to working with Tasman Motorsports Group’s strong and professional management team to create relevant
brand positioning and to bring AutoTrader to life through interaction with our consumers.”
AutoTrader and Valvoline join Replay XD and Shelby Auto Care on the TMG Ford Falcon driven by Daniel Gaunt and Andrew
Waite. The team hits the track September 1-2 at the Taupo Fathers Day 400.