Motorbase lose Airwaves sponsorship

[Allyc85]

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/80385

Big blow for motorbase losing a big sponsor like that, I was hoping that they could build on what seemed a very good first year together. Will be interesting to see who takes over.

[Forum Buddy]

Not a surprise, they pulled out of the British Superbikes too.

[Dickie L'Amour]

that story on autosport fails to mention that Airwaves (or rather Wrigleys who own them) have pulled all their motorsport involvement. Itmakes it sound like Motorbase have been dumped which isn't really fair. Dave Bartrum's team could be in for a big year if they get a replacement specially if they sign some of the drivers they've been testing (on btcc.net).

[tisme]

It's a shame BTCC.net have taken their story down about Motorbase loosing their main sponsor.

Anyway it shows that Bartrum is not a quitter, loosing his sponsor and TOCA giving him a massive handicap with the first gear issue even though they only won TWO race in 2009.

Anyone else would have taken the hint and left the championship....

[charles1]

British Touring Car team Motorbase Performance will be on the grid next season despite losing their main sponsor, according to boss David Bartrum.
The team from Wrotham, near Sevenoaks, who secured their first wins in the saloon car championship this season, had signed a one-year deal with Wrigley Airwaves, but they announced this week that they are to pull the plug on their sponsorship.The news leaves Bartrum’s team without a main sponsor for next season, but the owner is adamant his team will still be on the grid next season and have already begun the search for drivers for 2010 with a number of tests at Brands Hatch this week.
He said: “It’s a shame to lose the Airwaves sponsorship, as they have been great partners and certainly helped raise awareness of the team. They have been great with us and we will honour our agreement right up to December 31. It is going to be tough to find a new sponsor, but it will not stop us racing next year. We are already talking to people but nothing has been agreed yet.”Meanwhile, the lack of sponsorship in the sport could end 10 years of competing at the top of the British Superbike Championship for Kent’s GSE Racing team, who are on the verge of quitting the sport.The superbike team, formed by Kent businessman Darrell Healey, has become the British Superbike Championship’s most successful team with five titles. However, with Airwaves ending a five-year deal, GSE Racing are on the brink of extinction as they struggle to find the funds to compete in the 2010 championship.Since their formation in 1998, the Ashford-based team have helped produce a number of successful riders, including three-time world champion Troy Bayliss, Leon Haslam, Gregorio Lavilla, Sheppey’s Shane Byrne and Ashford’s Leon Camier.

Have a nice day