/ MRF Tyres to sponsor Akademos Rally in VRC

MRF Competition Tyres has followed up their launch into the Australian and New Zealand market by signing a three-year deal as the naming rights sponsor of the prestigious Akademos Rally, round five of the Victorian Rally Championship.

An event with a long motorsport history, the Akademos Rally is based in Alexandra and will be held on Sunday, October 18.

In unveiling the new three-year sponsorship deal, MRF Competition Tyres (Australia / NZ) and Mentor Tyres CEO, Vivek Ponnusamy, said that it was the first step in establishing MRF as one of the leading rally tyre brands in Australia and New Zealand.

“We are pleased to be part of the Akademos Rally. The rally has so much history and is an amazing compact event where the drivers love every corner of the event, which makes it appropriate for us to support the event,” Ponnusamy said.

“Event director Peter Ozten’s enthusiasm and commitment also convinced us to become a long term partner of the event.

“MRF Tyres understand the cost associated in competing in rallying. This is getting tougher every day, especially for state and club level competitors. Our motto is to support the competitors and provide the best quality tyres.

“Because of this, we have priced the tyres very competitively and, for this year, we will have an introductory price which ensures everyone can purchase tyres at a competitive price.”

All cars in the Akademos Rally will carry MRF Tyres branding on the front and sides of vehicles, while MRF Tyres signage will feature prominently throughout the event start, finish and spectator locations.

In addition, all finishers of the rally will receive a special voucher that entitles them to $75 off their next set of rally tyres purchased through Mentor Tyres – the first time ever that all finishers in a VRC round will be going home as winners!

Akademos Rally Clerk of Course, Peter Otzen, said that he was thrilled to welcome a brand new sponsor to not only this event, but to Victorian rallying.

“Melbourne University Car Club (MUCC) is excited to welcome MRF Tyres on board the Akademos Rally. We are sure that the popularity of the Akademos Rally will bring increased brand awareness of MRF among the rally fraternity,” Otzen said.

“MRF support also means the ever increasing costs of organisation of a state championship rally does not have to be simply passed directly to competitors.

“MUCC looks forward to continuing their association with MRF in the coming years, and we look forward to welcoming crews to the 2015 MRF Tyres Akademos.”

The Akademos Rally is a full pacenoted event, with reconnaissance on the Saturday, with the rally proper being held on the Sunday.