news

12/02/2009 | SYMANTEC ACCELERATES INVESTMENT IN MOTOR RACING

Symantec, maker of Norton internet security software, has accelerated its involvement in Australian motorsport, announcing a major investment in the V8 Supercar Championship Series.
 

Using the Norton brand, Symantec will sponsor the two cars of TeamVodafone, driven by current V8 Supercar Champion Jamie Whincup and one of Australia’s most popular racing drivers, Craig Lowndes.

Symantec will also be the naming rights sponsor of the Sandown round of the 2009 V8 Supercar Championship Series, held in Melbourne on July31-August 2, to be called the Norton 360 Sandown Challenge.

The sponsorship of TeamVodafone is an extension of an existing partnership between Craig Lowndes and Symantec, which saw Lowndes carry the Norton logo on his helmet and race suit throughout the 2008 season.
 

“After sticking our toe in the water of V8 Supercar racing last year we’ve concluded that it has helped to achieve our aim of raising consumer awareness of internet security issues,” said Symantec’s Consumer Spokesperson Pacific, Matthew Drake.

Lowndes became the Norton Internet Safety Ambassador for Australia and New Zealand at the beginning of last year, and continues to promote online safety and security to consumers.

“Our partnership with TeamVodafone complements the awareness-raising work we have been doing with Craig in our region, as well as various Symantec online safety programs currently underway elsewhere in the world,” said Mr Drake.

TeamVodafone principal, Roland Dane, says the partnership with Symantec is a great boost to his Championship-winning team.

“Any time motor racing attracts a major new corporate sponsor it’s a good thing, but given the current economic environment, the addition of Norton on the cars is particularly helpful to our prospects of defending the V8 title,” said Mr Dane.

Chief Executive of V8 Supercars Australia, Cameron Levick, has welcomed Symantec’s increased commitment to the V8 Supercar racing.

“Like a number of other key sponsors Symantec clearly sees great value in V8 Supercars and we are pleased that the audience the sport delivers aids their awareness-raising objectives,” said Mr Levick.

“This is a key announcement for our sport as we and our teams continue to defy current commercial trends. We welcome Symantec, through the Norton name, into our sport and look forward to a lengthy relationship.”

The Norton 360 Sandown Challenge will comprise two races on August 1 and 2.

The new Sandown race promoter, V8 Supercar Events, says Symantec’s sponsorship will help to reinstate Sandown Raceway as a key event on the V8 Championship calendar. “Our aim this year is to restore some of the prestige to Sandown as an iconic inner-city motor racing venue,” said Cameron Levick. “The Norton 360 sponsorship gives the Sandown race a strong platform for future growth and will allow us to provide a better experience for race-goers.”
 

CLIENT: SYMANTEC
TITLE: SYMANTEC ACCELERATES INVESTMENT IN MOTOR RACING
DISTR: GENERAL PRESS RELEASE – AAP
DATE: 12 February 2009
JOB: 56155-4
 

Back to news summary