PureBlack Racing and Avanti continue to work on plans for the future
Auckland, 12 December 2012 - After a successful second season competing on the international stage PureBlack Racing and
Avanti confirm that they are still looking at options for 2013 and beyond.
“With economic conditions remaining tough and the sponsorship market in New Zealand contracting we have been forced to
look internationally for a long-term major sponsor to help us with our future plans,” said Greg Cross, Business Director
of PureBlack Racing.
We continue to have fantastic and ongoing support of Avanti, Perry Foundation, F2P Sport and Steel Roofing as well as
the team founders, but more sponsors are still required to give us the platform needed.”
Bob Boniface, Chief Executive of Sheppard Industries the Avanti manufacturer says, “The PureBlack Racing team has done a
great job of building its profile and the Avanti profile on the Asian circuit during 2012 and we’re hopeful this can
continue in 2013 and beyond.”
PureBlack Racing was founded in 2010 with the objective of racing a New Zealand team on the international stage, and
having a team of 8-10 people traveling, living and competing in Asia, North America and Australia.
Cross says, “This of course is not a cheap endeavor. We’re in discussions with a number of international parties and
while they haven’t fitted exactly with the calendar year that cycling operates we are still working on options to field
a team at races during 2013 and hopefully beyond that.”
He adds that fundraising for cycling has also been complicated by the on-going drug controversy surrounding the sport
making it an unattractive proposition for many corporates to enter the sport at this time.
“All team members have been kept up to date with our progress on this front during the season and a number of them have
already accepted contracts for teams in Europe as they look to the next stage of their career development,” he says.
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