Dayco, one of the world’s leading manufacturers of engine components for the automotive aftermarket industry, has announced its first activities in its 2020 Australian motorsport program.
Dayco Australia has been heavily involved in Australian and international motorsport for more than a decade to date, steadily increasing the international company’s exposure through leading racing categories including Supercars, Porsche Carrera Cup and international GT / Sportscar racing.
The new year is no exception as Dayco once again joins forces with long-term ambassador and highly experienced Australian racing driver David Russell in both Porsche Carrera Cup and Supercars.
Russell will be joining Matt Stone Racing (MSR) for the three Supercar endurance races, including the inaugural OTR 500 at The Bend in South Australia this September, followed by Australia’s biggest racing event, the Supercheap Bathurst 1000, along with the Vodafone Gold Coast 600 to be held in October.
The Dayco-sponsored driver will be competing with highly talented MSR full time Supercar driver and former Super2 Champion driver Garry Jacobson in one of the team’s two ZB Commodores. Russell is not new to MSR, having been recruited to drive for the team at the Bathurst 1000 Super 2 race last season. “Dayco Dave” also helped secure the team an outstanding 7th overall, 2nd in class and highest placed Audi honors at the 2019 Bathurst 12 Hour Intercontinental GT Championship race last February.
Russell brings more than a decade of Supercar endurance racing experience to MSR, having competed in the Bathurst 1000 with Fernandez Racing and DJR followed by two seasons with Kelly Racing. The Dayco driver also has carried the company’s highly recognizable logo in the Supercar endurance races with Nissan Motorsport across five seasons and with Tickford Racing in 2018. Russell’s Supercar endurance racing career was highlighted by a second-place finish at the 2015 Gold Coast 600 with Rick Kelly.
Russell also will be partnering with fellow Dayco racer and long-term GT driving partner Roger Lago, sharing race events in the Dayco Porsche GT3 Cup Car during the 2020 Porsche Carrera Cup Australia Series. Russell will compete at four high profile events in the Pro category and Lago will compete in four events in the Pro-Am category, where he raced to an outright pole position top three championship result in 2019.
Russell also plans to compete in additional Australian and international GT races during 2020 which are currently being negotiated.
For Dayco Vice President – Aftermarket Asia Pacific, Arnold Mouw, 2020 is shaping up to be a very exciting year for the company both on and off the track. “We are delighted to see our ambassador Dave Russell back in Supercars with a team that is renowned for punching well above their weight in this most competitive sport.
“The whole Dayco team locally and internationally were super-impressed with our first Porsche Carrera Cup season last year as this is a car and a series that relates to so many people around the world. To have David joining Roger Lago for an entire season across two categories ensures that Dayco will continue to gain strong coverage.
“Our motorsport involvement speaks directly to the mechanics and enthusiasts who use and recommend our quality aftermarket products. The Dayco product range is set to expand significantly during 2020, so this forms a key part of our marketing strategy, while complementing our company’s global marketing strategies,” Mouw stated.
