ALEX DAVISON AND IRWIN INDUSTRIAL TOOLS CONFIRMED AT STONE BROTHERS RACING IN 2009

Topics:  Alex Davison

Stone Brothers Racing
January 6, 2009

Three-time V8 Supercar Championship winning team, Stone Brothers Racing, has confirmed that Alex Davison will drive the #4 Ford Falcon for the next three years along with naming rights sponsorship from IRWIN Industrial Tools for the 2009 season.

Led by Jimmy and Ross Stone, Stone Brothers Racing (SBR) is an official Ford Motor Company entry and will campaign the all-new FG model Falcon from the opening round, the Clipsal 500 on 19-22 March in Adelaide.

Davison’s motor racing experience goes far beyond his 29 years of age, having raced all over the world with his most recent exploits in GT racing earning him the Porsche Trophy for the most outstanding privateer Porsche driver in the world!

The grandson of four-time winner of the Australian Grand Prix, Lex Davison, Alex will go head-to-head with younger brother Will in the V8 Supercar Championship.

“I am thrilled to be joining Stone Brothers Racing in the IRWIN Racing FG Ford Falcon,” said Davison.

“Everyone from Jimmy and Ross to the crew, IRWIN and Ford, as well as myself can’t wait for the opening round in Adelaide.

“This will be a big challenge as the championship is very competitive. However, the team has a fantastic history of success and with the new FG Ford I am sure we can put the IRWIN Racing Falcon towards the front.

“There will be a lot of focus on the battle between Will and I on the track. We are both very competitive, but also professional; Dad may find it hard to be neutral.

“I am looking forward to working with everyone at IRWIN Industrial Tools. They have outlined some fantastic activities that will really engage their customers and I’m keen to ensure we back that up with the right performances on the track.”

Ross Stone is looking forward to the ‘new look’ of his team in 2009.

“New driver, new sponsor and new car all makes for a really exciting time for our team,” said Ross Stone.

“Alex has raced against some of the best drivers in the most competitive championships in the world during his career. He has raced mainly in the endurance races in V8 Supercars, but we feel that with an SBR FG Falcon he has the best opportunity to show his true capabilities in this championship.

“I am really excited to welcome IRWIN Industrial Tools as our naming rights sponsor on the #4 entry. They take all areas of their business very seriously, including this partnership. We are confident that we can present the IRWIN name in the best possibly way on and off the track.

“Racing the new FG Falcon is sure to give us a lift in 2009. Along with Ford, we have been preparing for the car’s debut for two years and we will be ready to hit the track running from Adelaide.

“The other factor we have been preparing for is the E85 fuel. We have been at the forefront on testing and evaluating the fuel and we will be ready come Adelaide.”

Vice President of IRWIN Asia-Pacific, Nick Pritchard, is looking forward to the new partnership in 2009.

“To have IRWIN Industrial Tools on the side of a Stone Brothers Racing FG Falcon entry with Alex Davison behind the wheel is a great opportunity for our company,” said Pritchard.

“IRWIN puts in a massive effort with our racing program. Not only is it about brand building, but also engaging customers on all levels.

“2009 marks our third year in the V8 Supercar Championship Series and we have exciting promotions to complement what we are doing on the track with Alex and Stone Brothers Racing.

“We will announce those promotions, as well as unveil the car, closer to the start of the season.”

Davison will test the IRWIN Racing FG Falcon ahead of the opening round of the 15-event V8 Supercar Championship Series beginning with the Clipsal 500 on the streets of Adelaide on 19-22 March.

Who is Stone Brothers Racing?

Although Jimmy and Ross Stone only opened the doors to Stone Brothers Racing in 1998, their own involvement in professional motor racing dates back to the 1960s. The New Zealand brothers were always around cars and racing. Older brother Jimmy worked with New Zealand’s most famous racing identity, Bruce McLaren; whose name still dominates Formula 1 today. Jimmy was a key member of the McLaren Can Am sportscar operation and other projects before re-uniting with Ross as part of Dick Johnson Racing in the early 1990s.

In the 1970s Ross was a driver in Formula Ford and Formula Atlantics, before switching his attention to race car preparation where he worked with the likes of Formula 1 World Champion Alan Jones.

Jimmy and Ross were charged with the running of Dick Johnson Racing when the V8 Supercar era started in 1993. By 1994 they had won the title with John Bowe as well as a thrilling victory at Bathurst for Johnson and Bowe.

By 1998 Jimmy and Ross had gone it alone with a fresh-faced Jason Bright behind the wheel of the Pirtek Racing Falcon in 1998. Faith in that decision was paid off when Bright combined with Steven Richards for victory at Bathurst.

They moved to their current race shop in Yatala in Queensland in 1999; the addition of a second car with backing from Caltex would start to bring true rewards in 2003. Marcos Ambrose (Pirtek Racing) was the dominate driver over those three seasons, winning titles in 2003 and ’04, before finishing runner-up to teammate Russell Ingall (Caltex Racing) in 2005. This period would bring outstanding rewards for the Stone Brothers Racing organisation with championships for the drivers, the team and the Ford Motor Company.

Along the way Stone Brothers Racing introduced young star Mark Winterbottom to the series through sponsorship in Formula Ford and the V8 Supercar Development Series where he won the title. Stone Brothers Racing expanded its race engine division to supply other leading Ford teams with the renowned SBR power. This has included Triple Eight Race Engineering who has scored three-straight Bathurst victories and the 2008 driver’s title with Jamie Whincup.

One of only two operations to have backing from the Ford Motor Company in 2009, Stone Brothers Racing will enter the #4 IRWIN Racing FG Ford Falcon of Alex Davison and the #9 SP-Tools Racing FG of Shane Van Gisbergen in the V8 Supercar championship series.

What is IRWIN Industrial Tools?

IRWIN Industrial Tools manufactures and distributes professional grade hand tools and power tool accessories worldwide for trade professionals who demand superior performance and durability on the job.

IRWIN Industrial Tools' brand portfolio features user-preferred category leaders such as IRWIN®, Vise-Grip®, Marathon®, Quick-Grip®, Speedbor®, Strait-Line®, Unibit®, Joran®, Jack®, Record®, Marples®, Bernzomatic®, Shur-Line® and Lenox®.

For over a century, innovation has been the hallmark of IRWIN Industrial Tools. Beginning in 1885, with the development of the first IRWIN Auger Bit, and progressing with the introduction of Vise-Grip Locking Tools, SPEEDBOR Flat Bits, MARATHON Saw Blades, and QUICK-GRIP Bar Clamps, IRWIN has been at the forefront of the industry, creating superior tools for the professional tradesman.

This impressive track record of new product development is born from the passion for understanding the needs of the primary user - the professional tradesman.