Tim Edwards. Image: Joel Strickland
Tim Edwards, CEO of Tickford Racing, celebrated the groundbreaking supercar sales that he believes will take the category to new heights.
Archer Capital today confirmed that it has sold its controlling stake in the company.
The teams of supercars that own shares in the business through the Racing Entitlements Contract (REC) system have also dumped their respective interests.
TGI Sport figurehead Barclay Nettlefold, the Australian Racing Group and investment firm Henslow were confirmed in a category statement that they will own supercars by the end of 2021.
Although not specifically mentioned in Supercars’ statement this morning, TGI Sport subsidiary TLA Worldwide is known to have a role in the sale.
For Edwards, the sale will usher in a new era of category growth.
“All teams are thrilled,” he told Speedcafe.com.
“It breathes a bit of fresh life into the sport. The management team is the management team, they’re all still there.
“Everyone is obviously excited about working with the new partner, just as we were a decade ago when we worked with Archer.
“You are always looking for the growth of the sport and always looking for help in doing it.
“We’ve had a great platform over the past decade, but this will be the catalyst to take to the next level,” he added.
“What we do is damn good. That’s why these people bought into it because they believe in what we do, but we know we can do more. “
“The positive thing is that the sport is far from broken. It is in very healthy condition.
“You have to be careful not to throw the baby out with the bath, because what we’re doing is really damn good.
“But if we can make it bigger and better, then everyone is a winner, the fans are winners, we are a winner, the new owners are a winner.
“I think what we have is a very solid platform and hopefully with the help of the new owners we will become gangbusters.”
The new owner group includes a broad knowledge of sports management and media with top-class customers in their portfolio.
TGI Sport and TLA Worldwide have experience in international and national sports.
TGI Sport describes itself as a digital agency, technology provider and media rights business, while TLA Worldwide is active in player and sports management and marketing.
The Australian Racing Group, which is still in its infancy in 2018, has established itself as a key player in promoting the country’s motorsport.
Its portfolio includes TCR Australia, S5000, Touring Car Masters, GT World Challenge Australia, National Trans Am, Super3 as well as the Bathurst 6 Hour and Bathurst International events.
Fundamental to Edwards ‘desire for the new owners is a greater emphasis on the spread of Supercars’ presence.
“Everyone is excited to see what they can bring,” said Edwards.
“They have completely different skills and experiences that they can bring with them. Everyone wants to see the sport grow.
“Personally, when I was a kid – and I don’t know if there was less exercise then or what, because it’s obviously pretty crowded these days. Every week you turn on the tele and there’s a new and emerging sport – but really, we’re one of the biggest sports in the country. It’s really about getting that message out there and putting on a fantastic show.
“The more we put on a great show, the more people go to work on Mondays and tell their friends about that race yesterday.
“There are just so many new ways to tell the story and put the show on in the digital world we live in now, some of the things we don’t do right now.
“We know how to drive cars fast, that’s what we do. We live and breathe it and have a flair for marketing our businesses as best we can, but there is no doubt that there are many people out there, including our new owners, who are far more skilled in this area.
“This is exciting for us because that is not our strength. Our strength is to win races. That is our competence. What they bring to the table is something completely different. “
The action of the Repco Supercars Championship continues tomorrow with the opening day of the Bunnings Trade Sydney SuperNight.
