After 17 years away from Australian motor racing, Fastway Couriers Racing will campaign Simon Ellingham in the national GT Championship and selected Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge events.

The Phillip Island Round of the Australian GT Championship (24-25 May) will mark Fastway Racing’s first event since the 1997 Bathurst 1000. A breakdown on the final lap of the race resulting in Dwayne Bewley trying to push his Peugeot 405 Mi16 across the line at the finish.

Fastway Racing will enter a 2011 spec Porsche 997 GT3 Cup car for 22 year old Ellingham who along with 20 year old brother Hamish, have quickly earned names for themselves and Fastway Racing in the New Zealand. Simon Ellingham has successfully campaigned with seasoned drivers Jono Lester, Klark Quinn and John McIntyre, taking the Fastway Racing Porsche to victory in the 2013 NZ Endurance Championship and to podium finishes in the 2012 and 2013 South Island Endurance Race Series.

For the Phillip Island Round of the Australian GT Championship (24-25 May), Simon will be joined once again by Lester for a 101-lap endurance race. Lester will again be competing in the Asian Le Mans Series this year. Fastway Racing will utilise the resources of leading Porsche outfit McElrea Racing.

“Fastway Racing has had dramatic success in New Zealand within a few short years,” said Brem Ellingham, Group Managing Director of Fastway Global.

“Now our attention is fully focused on continuing our success in Australia. The 2014 season will be a springboard for Fastway Racing’s future in the Asia Pacific motorsports arena and represents a challenge that everyone in the team is eagerly looking forward to.

“Three of our races will be held in support of the V8 Supercars, providing Fastway Racing and Fastway Couriers excellent visibility in national media outlets. This is certainly a step in the right direction for Fastway Racing and a sign of great things to come.”

Richard Thame, CEO at Fastway Couriers Australia, says the sponsorship is a natural choice for Fastway Couriers.

“Given the success of the Fastway Racing team in New Zealand and the immense value delivered to Fastway Couriers NZ, we’re very pleased to be bringing Simon and the team to our shores,” said Thame.

“Fastway Couriers has a long and successful history of supporting motorsport on both sides of the Tasman. To revive that heritage in 2014 is something we’re only too happy to be a part of.”