The V8 Supercars championship will benefit from a major partnership with leading truck brand Hino. The venture is meant to be one of the biggest support packages signed in the sport by a commercial vehicle distributor.
Hino has confirmed it will take a prominent position throughout the next three seasons to magnify its presence in the sport as the official light and medium duty truck and bus sponsor of V8 Supercars.
The newly named ‘Hino Hub’ (previously known as the Tech Centre) will provide regular race information, and statistical updates, throughout the Network Ten free-to-air and Foxtel TV broadcasts of the V8 Supercars championship.
Hino will have high profile signage at the major events, as well as participating in a number of at-event activities, such as safety car rides and pre-race grid-walk programs, designed to introduce new commercial fans to the sport.
“V8 Supercars has been used effectively by truck companies for brand exposure, but we see it as having even greater relevance as a means of bringing direct benefit to our customers,” says Steve Lotter, Hino motor sales Australia chairman and chief executive.
“Connecting with our customers, whether live at the track or through TV and online, has to be meaningful as well as entertaining.”
Hino last year launched the Hino Advantage program which focuses on broadening the suite of customer services available when purchasing a new vehicle, and in the post-purchase phase. Hino Advantage provides a more streamlined approach and covers areas such as finance, servicing, parts, and customer care.
Hino celebrated 50 years as a brand in Australia in 2015 just three years after the iconic Bathurst track celebrated 50 years of racing in 2012. The first V8 Supercars championship race was held in 1997.
“Both V8 Supercars and Hino operate in a fast-changing business environment and I’m certain that Hino will learn from the involvement with V8 Supercars, over the next three years,” adds Lotter.
“In many respects we share the same customer base and we are undertaking a similar rate of technological change.”
Hino’s multi-year initial partnership with the V8 Supercars championship comes into effect at the Clipsal 500 on March 3-6.
V8 Supercars chief executive officer James Warburton says: “We can’t wait to get back out on the track at our season opening Clipsal 500 next week. We’re pumped for a massive 2016 and look forward to working with Hino to bring the sport even closer to the fans.”
Hino will be prominent at all 16 annual events in 2015, of which 15 are championship rounds.
The 2016 V8 Supercars championship will begin with Clipsal Adelaide 500 on March 3-6.
