Car dealing giant South Coast Automotive Group and Gold Coast-based national finance company Finance EZI is broadening its motor racing interests by adding two new cars and two drivers to its stable.
Managing director of the companies Maurie Pickering is hoping the next step will be to take the plunge into the Dunlop V8 Supercar Development Series next year with his operation.
Pickering will run a Ford Falcon in the Kumho V8 Touring Car series that will be driven by 17-year-old Josh Hunter who is the grandson of Australian speedway superstar Garry Rush.
He will also field reigning Radical Racing Series champion Ed Singleton.
The Ford will be prepared at the established driver training and motorsport team facility by Paul Morris Motorsports at Norwell.
Pickering, who shares a long-held passion for motor racing and has been taught by Dick and Steven Johnson, races on the touring car circuit.
He sees the expansion plans to his operation as a prime opportunity to help a young driver like Hunter rise through the ranks and ultimately break into V8 Supercars.
“Josh is still doing his HSC but he has a great racing pedigree and he can drive. He’s hot favourite to take out the series this year. He’s the total package driver,” Mr Pickering said.
“If I can help a great young Australian get along then that’s fantastic.”
“The plan is to step up to the V8 Development Series next year.”
The two BA Falcons stickered-up in Finance EZI livery at today’s launch announcement at Broadbeach have decent pedigrees – one being a car which Steve Ellery co-drive to a podium at Bathurst and another which was built by Ford Performance Racing in Melbourne.
“We feel that motor racing is a great platform for our brands to gain greater exposure,” Pickering said.
