Athletics superstar Usain Bolt was on hand to help officially launch the new Zagame Motorsport operation which plans to field cars in four national championships/series this season.
The eight-time Olympic sprint champion and former team-mate Asafa Powell were among the special guests at the outfit's Melbourne workshop as it unveiled its plans to tackle the Australian GT Championship, Porsche Carrera Cup, Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge and Formula 4.
Jamaican sprinter Bolt and Powell unveiled the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge car his close friend former Australian athlete John Steffensen will pilot for the squad this season.
The sprint stars have been participating in the Nitro Athletics series in Melbourne.
Steffensen plans to embark upon a motorsport career this year having enjoyed a successful athletics career highlighted by a silver medal in the 4x400m relay at the 2004 Athens Olympics and two gold medals at the 2006 Commonwealth Games.
The outfit is a new venture spearheaded by businessman Bobby Zagame, owner of the Zagame Automotive Group, which operates Aston Martin, Audi, Ferrari, Maserati, McLaren, Lamborghini, Lotus and Rolls-Royce dealerships in Victoria.
It has also recently become the McLaren motorsport dealer for Australasia.
Zagame Motorsport also confirmed plans to field two cars in the Porsche Carrera Cup for team manager Cameron McConville and regular Michael Almond.
McConville will also join forces with gentleman driver Adrian Deitz for a tilt at the Australian Endurance Championship in a Lamborghini Huracan which was also revealed.
In addition, the outfit launched a junior program confirming a two car attack on the Australian Formula 4 Championship for Tyler Everingham and newly announced CAMS Rising Star Ryan Suhle.
Formula 4 regular Everingham had been announced as a Team BRM driver but has been released by the South Australian team to join Zagame and work alongside mentor McConville.
“It is a real commitment to Australian motorsport,” McConville told Speedcafe.com.
“I think there is a whole in the market for offering a multi-tiered program in motorsport.
“We have gone from not existing three and a half months ago to six race cars in our workshop competing in four different categories.
“We have been working for 10 months to get John (Steffensen) in the car and he was able to bring his mate Usain along to the launch.
“I'm very humbled to have Usain here to the launch to support his friend. It was the icing on the cake.”
Zagame Motorsport will step up its preparations over the coming weeks ahead of its debut season.