Paul Weel Racingwas an Australian motor racing team which competed in theV8 Supercars Championship Seriesbetween1998and2008.
| Manufacturer | Ford Holden |
|---|---|
| Team Principal | Kees Weel |
| Race Drivers | Paul Weel(1998-2008) Neal Bates(1998) Greg Crick (1999-2000) Tim Leahey (2001) Geoff Full (2002) Mark Porter(2002) Jason Bright(2003-2004) Marcus Marshall(2003-2004) Greg Ritter(2003) Matthew White (2004) Greg Murphy(2005-2006) Owen Kelly(2005) Nathan Pretty(2005-2006) Cameron McConville(2006-2007) Paul Dumbrell(2007) David Reynolds(2007) Andrew Thompson(2008) |
| Chassis | Ford EL Falcon Ford AU Falcon Holden VX Commodore Holden VY Commodore Holden VZ Commodore Holden VE Commodore |
| Debut | 1998 |
| Round wins | 3 |
| Pole positions | 6 |
| 2008position | 16th 767 points |
Ford Years
editAfter some brief appearances in 1997 in minor events, Paul Weel Racing debuted in the1998 Australian Touring Car ChampionshipwithPaul Weeldriving an exLonghurst RacingconstructedFord EL Falcon.The year was highlighted by a ninth-place finish at theBathurst 1000.
Unlike most other privateer teams who purchased older cars from the professional teams, Paul Weel Racing in1999built its ownAU Falcon.A further four would be built by the end of2002.[1]
Moving to Holden
editIn2003,Paul Weel Racing became a satellite team of Walkinshaw Racing, who already ran theHolden Racing TeamandK-Mart Racing.Relocating toClayton, Victoria,an alliance was formed withPeter Brockand the team rebranded Team Brock. Two Walkinshaw RacingHolden Commodore VXswere transferred along withJason Bright.A two-carRacing Entitlement Contract(REC) was purchased fromJohn Faulkner Racing.The team's existing one-car REC was retained and periodically leased to other drivers until sold toPerkins Engineeringin 2005.
The relationship with Brock was dissolved at the end of 2003, with the team resuming its Paul Weel Racing identity for2004with Bright finishing third in the series.
Partnership with Supercheap Auto
editIn2005,Greg Murphyreplaced Bright and the team signed a three-year sponsorship deal withSupercheap Auto.While continuing with its ex Holden Racing Team chassis, it switched toPerkins Engineeringengines. It also relocated to the formerGibson Motorsportpremises inDandenong.At the end of the season, Paul Weel retired withCameron McConvillejoining the team in2006.[2]
In2007Paul Dumbrell[3]replaced Murphy with the team upgrading to self builtCommodore VEs.After a deal to sell the team mid-season to John Marshall collapsed,[4][5]Kees Weel announced his intention to close the team at the end of the year.[6][7]
One REC was sold toFord Rising Stars Racing,but having been unable to find a buyer for its remaining REC and with the threat of a fine of $150,000 for every round missed, Paul Weel Racing contested the2008 serieswith a single Commodore VE forAndrew Thompson.[8]At the end of the year the team closed with the REC sold toWalkinshaw Racing.[9]
References
edit- ^Paul Weel RacingV8 Sleuth
- ^McConville finally confirmed at Supercheapcrash.net
- ^"Dumbrell to Supercheap Auto Racing".Archived fromthe originalon 3 September 2007.Retrieved25 December2006.
- ^No Limit confirms Supercheap purchasecrash.net
- ^"New V8 Team Owner has No Limit"Sunday Age20 May 2007
- ^SuperCheap Racing pulls outAdelaide Now
- ^Weel deals himself outDaily Telegraph15 November 2007
- ^PWR Racing set to race ad avoid finescrash.net
- ^PWR sells V8 licence to WalkinshawV8 Supercars 14 November 2008