Triple Eight hit with Vodafone sponsorship pull-out

Triple Eight will lose long time sponsor Vodafone Australia at the end of the season, as the mobile company scales down its sporting commitments, including a deal with the Australian Test Cricket Team.

Vodafone has been the naming rights sponsor on the Triple Eight Race Engineering team since the 2007 season, replacing electrical appliance chain Betta as the team’s title sponsor.

The team has gone on to win the drivers’ title three times since with Jamie Whincup in 2008, 2009 and 2011 as well the as the team’s title in 2008, 2010 and 2011.

Triple Eight as TeamVodafone has also won the Bathurst 1000km three times during their association, which ends after six years at the end of this season.

“TeamVodafone has been an incredible, high-octane, excitement machine that has thrilled and inspired motorsport fans and our own employees around Australia,” said Noel Hamill, Consumer Business Unit Director at Vodafone. “Thank you Roland (Dane), Craig (Lowndes) and Jamie (Whincup) and the entire Triple Eight Race Engineering Team for a wild ride and for making TeamVodafone such a high profile success.”

Hamill stated the reasons for the withdrawal from motorsport and cricket sponsorship, were because they “Feel that it’s best to refocus our investment and attention on delivering the best possible network and service experience to our customers.”

Triple Eight Team Principal Roland Dane added:
“Vodafone has always been an integral part of our team. By working together as TeamVodafone, we feel as though we have set a new benchmark in Australia for how a brand lives and breathes its sponsorship and how it brings that sponsorship to life.”