SUPERCARS TELECOMMUNICATION SPONSOR FIGHT RAMPS UP

Supercars are acting as a battleground for telecommunication companies as Boost Mobile, Optus and Vodafone fight for prominent sponsorship within the category.

Late last year outspoken Boost Mobile founder Peter Adderton announced that his company would be expanding its deal with Erebus Motorsport.

In 2021 Boost Mobile sponsored Brodie Kostecki’s #99 Holden Commodore, however in 2022 Adderton’s company will also sponsor Will Brown’s machine, earning Boost the right to be the naming rights sponsor of the team.

Since then, Auto Action has heard that Optus intends to step up its involvement and sponsorship with the team it is supporting, the Clayton based operation, Walkinshaw Andretti United.

It appears that this news has made its way up north into Queensland as Triple Eight Race Engineering has got Vodafone back on board with its team.

Vodafone was the naming rights sponsor of Triple Eight Race Engineering from 2008 to 2012, before Red Bull took over that mantle.

This deal appears to have been done, frustratingly for Boost Mobile boss Adderton.

Adderton and Boost Mobile have been a supporter of Super2 Series winner Broc Feeney for a number of years.

However, with Feeney’s promotion into Supercars – replacing seven-time champion Jamie Whincup – this season, he has been forced to end his ties with Boost Mobile.

A frustrated Adderton took to social media all but confirming the Vodafone announcement.

“People asking me, did Red Bull Ampol Racing and Vodafone force Broc Feeney to end our long-time relationship, the answer is YES,” Adderton wrote.

“Even though we supported the Triple Eight Race Engineering Super2 car last year, the Triple Eight management didn’t bother to pick up the phone and ask us if we’d be willing to support their team so we could continue our long-time relationship with Broc.

Adderton expressed he has no hard feelings towards Feeney as he understands the 19-year-olds position, however is angered by the other parties involved.

“We help kick start the careers of young drivers, support them when no one else will (looking at you Vodafone) and to have them steal them when they make it,” he continued.

“I have complete respect for Broc. He was put in a situation out of his control, but anyone who supports Triple Eight this year and/or Vodafone is only hurting young drivers coming through as why would we bother so show them they can’t treat people like this will ya.”

It is expected that Red Bull will remain as Triple Eight’s main sponsor, with Vodafone jumping on board as the second-biggest backer on the Queensland built ZB Commodores.

Adderton’s statements further underline that Optus will get more involved with WAU.

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