Renault Australia has become the first manufacturer to commit to the 2020 TCR Australia Series, announcing its sponsorship of Garry Rogers Motorsport (GRM) for next season, with the team to now be called Renault Sport GRM.
The sponsorship agreement comes after Renault Australia joined forced with GRM mid-way through the 2019 season, with the Renault Megane R.S. TCR of James Moffat carrying the Renault Sport livery for the remainder of this year’s series.
Renault, through its Renault Sport brand, will continue to dominate the livery on Moffat’s Megane R.S. in 2020, with the Renault branding to now be carried through each team entry.
“We are proud to announce our partnership with Garry Rogers Motorsport for the 2020 TCR Australia Series, and can’t wait to see the Renault Megane R.S. competing at the top end of the field in 2020,” Renault Australia managing director Anouk Poelmann said.
In recent years Renault Australia has consolidated its partnerships to put more investment into motor sport and strengthen the connection to the brand’s true racing spirit. The deal will include parts support and Renault light commercial vehicles throughout the year.
“The partnership with Garry Rogers Motorsport provides Renault Australia the ability to extend our motor sport association in Australia beyond Formula 1 and strengthens the connection between Renault’s racing heritage and our Renault Megane road vehicles,” Renault Australia marketing director Felix Boulin said.
“Throughout the 2019 season Garry, Barry and the entire team at Garry Rogers Motorsport went above and beyond supporting us, and our customers and fans, and have proven to be extremely valuable ambassadors for the Renault brand in Australia,” he added.
“The performance of Garry Rogers Motorsport to date highlights the genuine racing pedigree of both the Megane R.S. and the team, and as they continue to develop the cars we can’t wait to see what they do on track in 2020,” he said.
Garry Rogers Motorsport will run at least two Renault Megane R.S. entries in the TCR Australia series in 2020, and with a third car currently on its way to Australia the team could be one of the largest on the grid.
“To have the backing of Renault Australia is something that provides GRM with tremendous confidence and belief,” Barry Rogers from GRM said.
“As a family owned race team that was established by my dad Garry in 1963, we have tremendous pride in representing Renault Australia, the Renault dealer network and most importantly Renault owners as we travel the country racing our Renault Megane R.S.”
TCR is one of the world’s fastest growing motor sport categories, with 36 championships worldwide, including the FIA World Touring Car Championship. In 2015, there was just a single European Championship.
The sponsorship announcement comes just weeks after Renault Australia and GRM launched the limited edition Megane R.S. Trophy-R at The Bend Motorsport Park with James Moffat setting a new lap record for FWD production cars at the circuit.
