BEDFORD, Mass., Aug. 19, 2011 /PRNewswire-AsiaNet/ --
iRacing.com and V8 Supercars announced an agreement today that will see the organizers of the successful V8 Supercar
Championship officially sanction the popular online racing service's V8 Supercar series, which will be known as the
iRacing.com V8 Supercars Series presented by BigPond. V8 Supercars thus joins NASCAR, INDYCAR and GRAND-AM as partners
in sanctioning competition on the iRacing service.
"As the world's leading online racing service, it's both appropriate and gratifying to announce our first international
sanctioning partner," said Steve Myers, executive vice president of iRacing.com. "Many of our most enthusiastic members
hail from Australia and New Zealand, and iRacing is proud to be associated with V8 Supercars.
"Our NASCAR-, INDYCAR- and GRAND-AM-sanctioned series have introduced new fans to NASCAR, INDYCAR and GRAND-AM and, of
course, have been instrumental in the strong growth iRacing has enjoyed since going public in 2008. We fully expect this
new partnership to be similarly beneficial to iRacing and V8 Supercars."
Australia is the fastest growing country within the ranks of the iRacing.com membership. In 2010, iRacing added a second
server farm in Australia to its system in order to ensure its members throughout Australia, New Zealand and Asia
experience the best and fastest Internet connection possible.
"We're delighted by the chance to partner with iRacing.com in sanctioning their online V8 Supercar competition," says V8
Supercars CEO Martin Whitaker. "The iRacing.com V8 Supercars Series presented by BigPond will enable race fans around
the world to experience V8 Supercar racing in a dynamic and exciting fashion. Although the V8 Supercar Championship is
an Australian and New Zealand-based series, we are always looking to expand our horizons internationally, as witnessed
by our existing event in Abu Dhabi and the recent announcement that the V8 Supercars will be racing in Austin Texas, USA
at the Circuit of the Americas beginning in 2013. Our new partnership with iRacing.com is another vital component of our
efforts to bring the excitement of V8 Supercar competition to our international audience."
"iRacing is an amazing simulation system and it has helped me tremendously as I've tackled NASCAR Sprint Cup
competition," says Ambrose. "It's the closest thing to racing in the physical world that you can get. (But) iRacing.com
is for everyone . . . a terrific social venue for racers to find like-minded friends from all over the world. It is a
fantastic service for individuals or a bunch of mates who want to get together regularly, wherever they are in the
world, to race."
"iRacing is the best racing simulator, hands down," says Van Gisbergen. "Not only for the accuracy of the laser scanned
tracks and cars, but anyone can sign up and be racing against professional drivers from across the world who, like me,
use iRacing as a tool to improve driving skills . . . Cometake us on!"
Racers can do just that by taking advantage of a special offer for two free months on the iRacing service with the
purchase of one month of racing (http://www.iracing.com/2-free). For a look at iRacing 2.0 featuring Dale Earnhardt, Jr., Tony Stewart and the iRacing staff, go to http://www.youtube.com/user/iracingtv.
About iRacing.com
Founded in 2004 by Dave Kaemmer and John Henry and released in August 2008. Kaemmer was co-founder of Papyrus Design
Group, developers of award-winning racing simulations including "Grand Prix Legends" and NASCAR 2003." Henry is
principal owner of the Boston Red Sox and Liverpool Football Club, as well as co-owner of NASCAR's Roush Fenway Racing.
iRacing.com has developed dozens of formal partnerships in the motorsport industry to help create the most authentic
racing simulation in the world including with NASCAR, IndyCar, GRAND-AM, International Speedway Corporation, Speedway
Motorsports, McLaren Electronics, Williams F1, Volkswagen, Ford, and GM.
SOURCE: iRacing.com