Super Black Racing owner Tony Lentino has announced that his team will continue in the V8 Supercars Championship next season under a revised structure.
The Kiwi squad’s future had been in question due to the internet businessman’s battle with lung cancer and a lack of a confirmed Racing Entitlements Contract under which to compete.
Lentino was diagnosed in May and, after extensive chemotherapy treatment that saw him absent from three events mid-season, is confident that he’s well on the way to returning to full health.
Super Black debuted as a wildcard at Bathurst last year, before securing a one-year lease on DJR Team Penske’s second REC for a full-time 2015 campaign with driver Andre Heimgartner.
An announcement this morning says that Lentino has committed to returning to the championship next year and the team is “finalising details of the Racing Entitlement Contract with V8 Supercars and the team drivers for 2016”.
“While I am looking to slow down and make the most of life with my wife Emily and our two young daughters, I have committed to the Super Black Racing family that they will be racing in 2016,” said Lentino.
The internet entrepreneur subsequently told Speedcafe.com that he hopes to have a firm direction on the REC situation within the coming weeks.
With several rival entries still unfunded for next year and unconfirmed to continue, Lentino isn’t ruling out following through on his previously stated aim of expanding to two cars.
“It depends on how many cars we run yet, but we’ve got options,” he said of RECs.
“Nothing is locked in (with RECs), but we’re committed with backing and a structure to take the team into the future.
“It doesn’t matter to me whether we lease or buy. As long as we go racing, that’s our main goal.”
Deals with Prodrive and Heimgartner are also yet to be locked in, but are both expected to continue.
Lentino has a long friendship with Prodrive co-owner Rusty French, who along with Paul Radisich, brought the businessman into the sport.
Radisich had been acting as Super Black’s team principal throughout the season but has now split with the squad.
Other structural changes see the establishment of the Super Black Racing Foundation to act as the funding arm of the organisation.
The team has to date relied largely on Lentino and his array of internet companies, including Only Domains, for backing as it continues to hunt support from NZ’s wider corporate sector.
The foundation’s management will include Kiwi businessman and racing identity Clark Proctor.
Former V8 Supercars team owner Paul Morris and associate Scott Jennings have been brought in to help to procure sponsors and bring its 2016 plans together.
“We’ve got a number of people who are helping us with various aspects of the team and its commercial operations,” Super Black operations manager Greg Hahn told Speedcafe.com.
“We’re working with Morris and his team as part of that.”
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