Team Australia

Team Australia is an Auto racing team competing in the V8 Supercars, Champ Car World Series and NASCAR Busch Series. It was created in early 2005 when two Australian businessmen bought into Derrick Walker's operation.

Origins

After sponsoring young Australian driver Josh Hunt in the Toyota Atlantic Championship, Australian millionaire Craig Gore began to investigate fielding a Champ Car team. His empire already included a V8 Supercar team competing in Australia, and at the 2004 Surfer's Paradise round of the CCWS, on the Gold Coast, Australia, Gore's V8 driver David Besnard made his debut with a WPS sponsored Walker Racing Champ Car. He finished a creditable 7th place, and the seeds were sewn for Gore's assault on the Champ Car series.

In late 2004 and early 2005 Gore, his associate John Fish and long time Champ Car World Series team owner Derrick Walker, created the Team Australia race program. Obsolete Reynard chassis were replaced with bespoke Lola units, and the team signed Canadian Champ Car veteran Alex Tagliani and Australian Formula 3 driver Marcus Marshall for the 2005 season.

A learning year

With a new chassis to learn, Team Australia was hardly going to upset the establishment in 2005. However, Tagliani's consistent, solid drives took the team to many top-ten finishes and several podiums through the year. Tagliani finished the season in seventh place, equaling his career best finish. Marshall, by contrast, was unspectacular, struggling to break the top ten. In all fairness, the jump from a Formula Three car to a Champ Car is a huge one that was exacerbated by Marshall's inexperience on the American circuits. By Team Australia's homecoming at the 2005 Surfer's Paradise race, they had announced that a third car would be run for Australian international driver Will Power. Power outpaced both teammates before a collision with Tagliani took him out of the race.Amongst some controversy it was announced that Marshall's contract had been cut, and he was to leave the team. His attempt to appeal this in court was unsuccessful, and he was dropped in favour of Power, who signed a three year contract.The team ran their third car again in the season finale at Mexico, where newly crowned Atlantics champion, Dutchman Charles Zwolsman made his debut.

2006

Rumours that Ryan Briscoe would be taking the #15 car were crushed when Tagliani re-signed prior to Long Beach. In 2006, Team Australia's commitment extended not only to two Champ Cars, but a two-car Atlantic squad, all aimed at fostering young talent.The team showed fantastic pace at the opening round at Long Beach, with Tagliani and Power running third and fourth respectively before a forced error dropped him down the order. He then suffered from brake problems but finished a competitive 9th, while Tagliani took a podium.

The team had consistent top-ten finishes, never really achieving more until Will Power took a sensational pole position at his home race at Surfer's Paradise. He led the race comfortably until Sébastien Bourdais made a questionable move on Power which damaged both cars. Will finished well down the order, but made up for that with a podium at the season finale in Mexico. He also won the Roshfrans Rookie of the Year title, as well as the Bridgestone Passion for Excellence award, the first driver other than Bourdais to win it.

NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series

Team Australia expandeded its stable of global motorsport interests with a new partnership with Wood Brothers/JTG Racing that included the naming-rights sponsorship of Marcos Ambrose’s entry in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series in North America.

The sponsorship was weaved into a nation-wide marketing campaign designed to promote quality Australian and Australian-themed products and Australia as a tourism destination.

The new green and gold Ford F-150 truck carried Team Australia, Aussie Vineyards and R. M. Williams signage. Featured in the primary bonnet position of the #20 Truck is signage for the Aussie Experience – a large-scale interactive tourism exhibit set to launch in North America in January 2007.

A mobile replica of the Sydney Opera House, the Aussie Experience will be making tour stops at some of America’s largest spectator events over a two-year period in what will be one of the biggest Australian-themed marketing initiatives ever seen anywhere.

Marcos Ambrose showed lot of driver skill in the #20 Aussie Vineyards Ford F-150 on the banked ovals of America, with his best finish being a podium in Kansas. He sent shockwaves through the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series by taking the Bud Pole Position in Kentucky.It was a fantastic achievement considering that 2006 first year Marcos has driven on banked ovals.

Atlantics series

In only their first year of Atlantics, the team won their first title, with young French driver Simon Pagenaud. He was partnered by James Davison initially, until the underperforming Australian was dropped in favour of countrymate Michael Patrizi.

Team details

The team gained most of its sponsorship from the businesses of Gore and Fish. Gore's financial company, Wright Patton Shakespeare, features on the sides and nosecone of the cars, Fish Liquor are sponsors and their wine business Aussie Vineyards was the title sponsor. The team was also sponsored by the Queensland State Government, Visa credit cards, R. M. Williams, and Qantas. The relationship ended in early 2008 and Gore, Fish and Walker are no longer directly involved, with Walker announcing that Walker Racing will not contest the unified 2008 IRL season. [ [http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/racing/wires/03/09/3010.ap.car.irl.open.wheel.merger.walker.1st.ld.writethru.0225/ Walker Racing won't be making switch from Champ Car to IndyCar Series] , Associated Press, March 9, 2008] . Gore has taken driver Will Power and the Team Australia name to KV Racing.

Drivers who have driven for Team Australia

;IndyCar (2008) (KV Racing)
*flagicon|AUS Will Power (2008)

;Champ Car (2005-2007) (Walker Racing)
*flagicon|AUS David Besnard (2004)
*flagicon|CAN Alex Tagliani (2005-2006)
*flagicon|AUS Marcus Marshall (2005)
*flagicon|AUS Will Power (2005-2007)
*flagicon|NED Charles Zwolsman (2005)
*flagicon|FRA Simon Pagenaud (2007)

;V8 Supercars (2004-2007) (WPS Racing)
*flagicon|AUS David Besnard (2004-2006)
*flagicon|AUS Mark Noske (2004)
*flagicon|AUS Owen Kelly (2004)
*flagicon|MAS Alex Yoong (2004)
*flagicon|AUS Charlie O'Brien (2004)
*flagicon|AUS Neil McFadyen (2004)
*flagicon|NZL John McIntyre (2004)
*flagicon|AUS Marcus Marshall (2005)
*flagicon|CAN Alex Tagliani (2005)
*flagicon|AUS Craig Baird (2005-2006)
*flagicon|BRA Max Wilson (2006-2007)
*flagicon|AUS Jason Bargwanna (2006-2007)
*flagicon|AUS Michael Caruso (2007)
*flagicon|AUS Grant Denyer (2007)

;Champ Car Atlantics (2006-2007) (Walker Racing)
*flagicon|FRA Simon Pagenaud (2006)
*flagicon|AUS James Davison (2006)
*flagicon|AUS Michael Patrizi (2006)
*flagicon|GBR Ryan Lewis (2007)
*flagicon|SUI Simona De Silvestro (2007)

;NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series (2006) (Wood Brothers/JTG Racing)
*flagicon|AUS Marcos Ambrose (2006)

;NASCAR Busch Series (2007) (Wood Brothers/JTG Racing)
*flagicon|AUS Marcos Ambrose (2007)

Complete V8 Supercar results

to be completed()
* Bold indicates Pole Position.

Complete NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series results

()
* Bold indicates Pole Position.

Complete to July 20, 2007.

References

External links

* [http://www.teamaustraliamotorsport.com Team Australia Motorsport]
* [http://www.wpsracing.net.au WPS Racing]
* [http://www.walkerracing.com Walker Racing]