Bundaberg Rum has confirmed its sponsorship plans for the 2012 Australian motor sport.
The company will withdraw its support from V8 Supercars team Walkinshaw Racing, but will continue to support the team's entry in the Auto One V8 Ute Series.
Cameron McConville will continue as the team's V8 Ute driver. McConville achieved three race wins, a round win and three podium finishes this year.
In WR's V8 program, the Bundaberg sponsorship has been replaced by Supercheap Auto, with Russell Ingall stepping into the ride that Fabian Coulthard has held for the past two years.
Coulthard will switch to Brad Jones Racing next year.
Bundaberg Rum Brand Manager, Mark McLeod confirmed the company's sponsorship plans after the final V8 Supercars and V8 Ute event in Sydney last weekend.
“After careful consideration of our motorsport sponsorship platform and in relation to Bundaberg Rum's wider strategy, we have decided that after three years the V8 Supercar sponsorship had delivered on its initial objective of launching Bundaberg Red and more recently delivering awareness for the new Bundaberg Rum branding,” McLeod said.
“We have been pleased with the improved performances Fabian Coulthard has delivered this year and appreciate the efforts both Cameron and Fabian have made integrating the Bundaberg Rum brand into all off-track activity with the highlight undoubtedly being the recent Bundy Racing rum launch in Bundaberg in July,” he said.
“In addition, we are really excited about the potential for the Bundaberg Racing ute next season and see it as a great marketing platform aligned to our core audience. We are committed to a really successful season ahead, and also excited to extend our relationship with Cameron McConville as a Bundy Rum ambassador.”