Toughest offroad race announces major commercial partnership

Media release

26 June 2013

Toughest offroad race announces major commercial partnership

-ENZED on board for spectacular offroad endurance race

-All-new course with spectator-friendly farmland start

-TV coverage, dates, distance confirmed

Organisers of the 2013 Taupo 1000 have confirmed they have signed a main sponsor for the race in September, and the race will be known as the ENZED Taupo 1000.

ENZED has an extensive and proud history of backing motorsport in Australia and New Zealand. It is the industry leader in mobile hydraulic hose solutions for agriculture, automotive, construction, earthmoving, forestry, mining and manufacturing sectors – as well as motorsport. The company was the first to develop the mobile ‘hose doctor’ service concept and remains at the forefront of hydraulic hose technology.

Taupo 1000 spokesperson Tony Saelman says for the race, the agreement is a major step forward and an endorsement of the quality of the event itself.

“We’re really pleased that such a high profile company as ENZED, with such a long and proud history of involvement in motorsport, has become our main sponsor and event partner. This adds so much to the months of hard work we do as race organisers and volunteers to make this iconic race happen,” he said.

It is the first time ENZED has become involved in offroad racing at such a high level.

With four months until the race cars and trucks grid up to race, the event’s ‘intent to enter’ page has topped a record 120 teams, including racers from North America and Australia.

ENZED Marketing Manager Shaun O’Dea says the fit with the company’s own values is clear.

“The Taupo 1000 is a legendary race with a true international profile and the standard of event organisation aligns very closely with our own core values. We are pleased to be part of the team and looking forward to doing some innovative work around the event and through our dealer network in the months leading up to race day,” he said.

Run over three days in September, the Taupo 1000 is the longest, toughest, fastest offroad race in the southern hemisphere, completing 1000 km over two days – or the equivalent of a Bathurst 1000 track race without once running on sealed roads. Free practice and qualifying laps are to be held over a short course on Friday 13 September, with the race itself taking place on the Saturday and Sunday and competitors aiming to complete up to 500 km per day.

“We limit the distance and run over two days for safety, and to ensure people get a good run at the whole event. It’s an epic distance and an epic course, and we are very excited to welcome ENZED on board,” said Mr Saelman.

The international standing of the Taupo 1000 grows year by year. With race teams planning their Taupo 1000 assault up to two years before the event, the event always draws record numbers of media and is covered for television in New Zealand and Australia.

The Taupo 1000’s official coverage will screen on TV3, with options for repeat screenings on SKY currently being explored. In Australia, the race will be shown on Simon Christie’s popular 4WD TV programme. Christie and his crew have covered the Taupo 1000 since 2007.

Each year the online profile of the race grows, with its Facebook page attracting tens of thousands of views per day and a race-weekend ‘reach’ approaching 400,000. Racers post on-board and other footage on Youtube and link the coverage back to their own team’s social media channels and to the event page.

“Every time this race happens it takes huge steps beyond what has gone before. One of the great things this year is the new track. We have been able to bring the race much closer to Taupo, and the new start-finish and pit area is on wide, open rolling farmland which means spectators get to see plenty of race action from the one location,” said Mr Saelman.

Event information is available online at the race website www.taupo1000.co.nz and on its Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/EnzedTaupo1000

ENDS

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